Moscow (EFE).- The Wagner paramilitary group advances in the capture of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, where some of its fighters were assigned to the protection of the flanks after the withdrawal of a part of Russian regular troops, the chief said today from Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin.
During the day on Saturday, Wagner’s units advanced 550 meters in different directions in Bakhmut, Prigozhin said in an audio message, released by his press service.
Currently, he added, “1.78 square kilometers of territory” remain to be conquered.
According to Prigozhin, of the 48 multi-storey buildings still standing, Ukrainian forces maintain control over 29.
“Wagner’s units continue the advance in a westerly direction. In addition to this, the artillery and units taken from other tasks in Bakhmut are forced to cover the hole in the Berkhovskaya dam (in the north-west) to cover their flanks for the final capture of Bakhmut, ”he stressed.
This Friday, Prigozhin warned of the difficult situation on the flanks of the Russian troops in Bakhmut, where the Ukrainian forces began to reconquer some territories.
“The flanks are crumbling, the front is collapsing, and the attempts of the Defense Ministry to somehow smooth the situation are leading and will lead to a global tragedy for Russia,” the Wagner chief warned.
The businessman recommended in a video to the military leadership to “immediately stop lying” about the real situation in that stronghold and invited the Russian Defense Minister to visit the city.
However, he was convinced that Wagner would soon take full control of the city, where the fighting has not stopped for months.