ALBAWABA - The Russian Wagner Group took control of the entire eastern part of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the group's commander said Wednesday.
Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the entire eastern part of the city of Bakhmut, the center of fighting in eastern Ukraine, has been controlled. His remarks were carried by several Western media outlets.
Russia’s Wagner paramilitary organization proclaimed control of the eastern district of Bakhmut, as Ukrainian troops continued to fight to avoid being encircled https://t.co/Daq8Ua2MWp
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) March 8, 2023
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned against Russian forces taking over the city, but the pressure increased dramatically on the Ukrainian fighters defending Bakhmut in the face of a steady Russian advance.
Wagner Commander Yevgeny Prigozhin was filmed speaking at the T-34-85 Memorial in Eastern Bakhmut early this morning; he states that Ukrainian Forces have now Withdrawn from the Eastern Districts of the City over the Bakhmutovka River. pic.twitter.com/RfK77AY6ez
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 8, 2023
Zelenskyy reaffirmed that his forces are determined to regain control the city because the Russian presence there heralds more Russian troop victories in other cities in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president said that defending this city "is a strategic issue for us."
On Tuesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that controlling Bakhmut will allow additional attacks in the depth of the defense lines of the Ukrainian armed forces.
A Ukrainian official said Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is running low on fighters recruited from prisons, who are dying by the thousands in the battle for Bakhmut. https://t.co/Z9HazCMzkV
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 8, 2023
Earlier, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg cautioned that Bakhmut might fall.
Bakhmut has been witnessing the longest and bloodiest battle since the onset of the Russian invasion on Ukraine more than a year ago.
It gained its importance after the Russian forces were unable to control it, despite the fact that a long time passed since fierce battles erupted there.
Russia and Ukraine alike incurred heavy losses in their quest to control Bakhmut.
