The Russian Army’s 72nd Automatic Rifle Brigade, which invaded the Bakhmut region of Ukraine, was repulsed by Ukrainian forces. The unit was evaluated as the most elite unit in the Russian military after repeated real battles.
According to the Voice of America (VOA) on the 10th (local time), the Ukrainian Army’s 3rd Assault Brigade said in a statement that day, “Officially, the Russian 72nd Brigade has withdrawn to the outskirts near Bakhmut.”
“The 6th and 7th battalions under the command of the Russian 72nd Brigade were almost annihilated on the Bakhmut front, and the intelligence unit was also destroyed,” said Andriy Viletsky, an official of the Azov Regiment of the Ukrainian Army, who is fighting in the Bakhmut area. A large number of combat vehicles were destroyed and a significant number of troops were captured.”
With this repulsion operation, the Russian 72nd Brigade retreated, and the Ukrainian army recaptured territory 3km wide and 2.6km deep on the Bakhmut Front.
“The Russian 72nd Brigade suffered heavy losses,” said Serhi Cherevati, a spokesman for the Eastern Armed Forces of Ukraine, which is defending the Donetsk region of Ukraine, through local media.
“It is true that two battalions suffered serious damage,” he added, “but unfortunately the entire brigade has not been destroyed yet.” At the same time, he emphasized, “The war situation of Bahmut is still difficult.”
Soldiers of the 72nd Automatic Rifle Brigade of the Russian Army break away from the Bakhmut Front. Provided by think tank War Research Institute (ISW)“As a result of the counteroffensive, the Russian forces retreated up to 2 km from Bakhmut,” said Ukrainian army commander Oleg Sandrshirsky.
Evgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner Group, a private military company of the Russian army, who participated in the battle with the 72nd Automatic Rifle Brigade on the 9th, said, “Russian troops are retreating from Bakhmut.” It was taken away and the Wagner group also lost 500 combatants.”
On the same day, the War Research Institute (ISW), a think tank in the United States, also confirmed the fact by posting a video of soldiers from the 72nd brigade fleeing from Bahmut on Twitter.
White House National Security Council (NSC) Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said, “Russia’s offensive in Donbass (eastern Ukraine) centered on Bahmut has failed.” could not be occupied anywhere,” he said.
The announcement of the defeat of the Ukrainian forces this time coincides with what Prigozhin, the Russian side, said, and the retreat of parts of the Russian army from Bakhmut has been cross-checked by both sides.
Bakhmut is a strategic point in Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. Since September of last year, the Russian regular army and Wagner’s group launched a large-scale offensive in the area, and the Ukrainian army has been engaged in a defensive operation so far, emerging as the most fierce battleground.
Ukrainian multiple rocket launchers firing at Russian positions.It was observed that the Russian army encircled the center from three sides with Wagner mercenaries at the fore until last month, and its capture was imminent. However, the persistent resistance of the Ukrainian army and the recent infighting between the Russian military and the Wagner group have significantly weakened the offensive power and control of the Russian army.
Prigozhin warned the Russian Ministry of Defense on the 8th that “only 10% of the ammunition promised by the military authorities has been supplied” and that “if this (ammunition supply problem) is not corrected, the Wagner group will withdraw from Bakhmut” and warned the Russian regular army and PMC ‘Wagner Group’ came to the surface.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.