The control of Bahmut and its surroundings has been fought for several months, although the city has little strategic importance.
Fierce clashes between Ukrainian and Russian forces continue in the city of Bahmut in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, and both countries assess the other party’s losses as heavy.
As well as the Commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi that the director of the Russian mercenary company Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin describe Bahmut’s situation as difficult.
According to Syrskyi, the soldiers of the Russian mercenary company Wagner are attacking the Ukrainian forces from several directions and are trying to break through the Ukrainian defense lines to reach the city center.
– All enemy attempts to capture the city will be repelled with artillery, tanks and other firepower, Syrskyi said on the Telegram service of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ media center.
On the other hand, Wagner’s director Yevgeni Prigožin writes on social media that “the enemy is fighting from every meter” and sends endless soldiers to the battles.
– The closer we get to the city center, the more difficult the battles will be, Prigožin said on social media.
Ukraine controls the western parts of the city and Russia controls the eastern parts. The front line follows the Bahmutka river that flows through the city.
Zelenskyi: More than a thousand Russian soldiers dead
Both Ukraine and Russia estimate the other side’s losses to be at least hundreds of soldiers.
President to Volodymyr Zelenky according to the report, more than 1,100 Russian soldiers would have died in about a week in Bahmut alone, and 1,500 were wounded so seriously that they cannot participate in the battles.
On the other hand, the Russian Ministry of Defense said yesterday, Sunday, that more than 220 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the 24-hour period in the Donetsk region. Neither country commented on their own losses.
The control of Bahmut and its surroundings has been fought for several months, although the city has little strategic importance.
Ukraine has justified defending the city by saying that it weakens Russia’s ability to launch new attacks elsewhere in the country. It has also warned that the collapse of Bahmut would provide a route for Russian forces deeper into the Donetsk region.
Syrskyi: We have to beat the Russians
The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, who commented on the situation in Bahmur, has published a video on the Telegram service in which he praises the spirits of Ukrainian soldiers.
The news agency Reuters has published the video, but has not been able to confirm where or when it was filmed.
– I want to once again express my gratitude that you exist, defend our country, kill enemies. You are doing an important job because you are giving us time to train reserve forces, Syrskyi told the soldiers.
– We have to beat the Russians. More than that, we need to kick their asses and send them back home.
Sources: AFP, Reuters