The leader of the Russian paramilitary group says the defenses are “collapsed” near the Ukrainian city, while kyiv claims a breakthrough there.
The boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner Yevgeny Prigojine accuses Russian regular troops on Friday of “fleeing” their positions near Bakhmout in Ukraine, where Kiev has claimed a breakthrough, believing that the defenses are “collapsed” and that the state- Russian major “waters down” the situation.
“There was quite simply an escape of the units of the Ministry of Defense on the flanks” in Bakhmout, affirmed Evguéni Prigojine in a video.
“Attempts by the Defense Ministry in the information field to water down the situation are leading and will lead to a global tragedy for Russia,” he said.
Wagner’s boss has spoken out in recent days, repeatedly accusing the Russian regular army of retreating to Bakhmout. The Russian Ministry of Defense was content to mention this Friday a redeployment of units north of Bakhmout, to “strengthen the sustainability of the defense”.
Moscow says it repelled offensives, kyiv claims advances
This exit comes as the Russian army said on Friday that it had repelled 26 Ukrainian attacks on a 95-kilometer long front in the Soledar sector in eastern Ukraine, near Bakhmout.
“All attacks by Ukrainian units have been repelled. No breakthrough of the defense of Russian forces has been allowed,” assured the Russian Ministry of Defense.
Ukraine, for its part, assured that it had advanced two kilometers around Bakhmout, while kyiv said it had been preparing a counter-offensive for several months.
The city of Bakhmout, where most of the fighting now takes place, has become a symbol of the stalemate in the conflict.
