Wagner group head claims 80% of Ukraine’s Bakhmut under control

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) – The head of Russia’s Wagner group on Tuesday claimed that 80% of Ukraine’s Bakhmut is under control of the private military company, as intense fighting in the region between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues.

“In Bakhmut, most of it, more than 80%, is under our control, including all administrative centers, plants, factories, the city administration,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video statement shared on Telegram.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russian forces in the direction of Donetsk concentrated on the city of Bakhmut.

It further said Wagner forces continued fighting to capture quarters in the central part of the city and tried to push Ukrainian forces to its western outskirts.

“On the flanks, the actions of the assault squads are supported by units of the Airborne Forces,” the ministry also said.

​​​​​​​Russian forces have been trying for months to capture Bakhmut, a transport and logistics hub in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, which is part of the largely Russian-speaking industrialized Donbas region.

Prigozhin claimed in late March that the battle for the city “almost destroyed the Ukrainian army” and “battered” his group.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s General Staff said attacks by Russian forces in the direction of Bakhmut continued with “partial success.”