ELTA
in 2023 May 25 17:42
Prigozhin announced his withdrawal from Bakhmut
Photo: Scanpix/Reuters
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Members of the Russian mercenary group “Vagner” have begun withdrawing from their positions in Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine to rest and prepare for their next deployment, the group’s commander, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said in a video report.
Russian regular forces must fully take over the destroyed city by June 1, Mr. Prigozhin said, and two experienced Wagner mercenaries will remain in the city to assist the Russian military.
Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed that “Vagner” members are being replaced by Russian regular forces in the suburbs of Bakhmut, but added that Mr. Prigozhin’s mercenaries are still in the city itself. According to her, Ukrainian forces still control the suburbs southwest of Bakhmut.
Russian forces used artillery to stop the movement of Ukrainian forces on the flanks and mobilized additional forces to protect the flanks, Maliar said, adding that the Russian attack was repulsed in various directions.
Such reports from a war zone are often impossible to independently verify.
Tags: Vagner replaced Russian regular forces suburbs Bakhmut
