Ukraine increases pressure on Russian troops and continues its advance on the Bakhmut frontthe “prelude” to its imminent counter-offensive in which Kyiv intends to take advantage of the tension between the mercenaries of the Wagner Group and the military leadership in Moscow.
“Ukrainian forces they keep reacting in the Bakhmut area,” the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) points out in its latest report.
The analytical center quotes the commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, who yesterday confirmed that Ukrainian troops are advancing in unspecified areas of the front.
Meanwhile, Eastern Operational Command spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty assured that Kyiv forces cleared 17,3 square kilometers of territory in the direction of Bakhmut during three days of counterattacks.
Russia recognizes the problems
The Russian Defense Ministry reported this on Sunday massive attempts. of the Kiev armed forces to break through the Russian defense lines around Bakhmut.
“North and south of Artiomovsk (Russian name for Bakhmut) the enemy has made massive attempts to break through the defenses of our troops,” military spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.
According to Konashenkov, all attacks by Kiev troops “were rejected”.
“It was not allowed to break through the defensive lines of Russian troops,” he said.
According to Moscow, Ukraine has suffered on the Soledar-Baymut axis more than 400 victims in one day, between dead and wounded.
Two Russian colonels also died in the fighting there, Konashenkov said.
the tension continues
The head of the Wagner paramilitary group, Yevgueni Prigozhin, announced this Sunday that his units continue the advance to Bakhmut and protect the flanks that they had previously left some regular army soldiers.
During Saturday, Wagner’s units advanced 550 meters in different directions to Bakhmut, Prigozhin said in an audio message, released by his news service.
Now, he added, “1.78 square kilometers of territory” remain to be conquered.
He also assured that the servicemen of the Russian regular army “did not run away” from the flanks and now they have joined Wagner’s fighters to defend the occupied positions and contain the Ukrainian forces.
In other statements released during today’s session, Prigozhin ammunition shortage confirmed that the military group still suffers when the MoD fails to meet its repeated requests for supplies.
However, according to the entrepreneur, this does not affect the number of recruits who enlist in the Wagner Group knowing that it is “a structure that takes care of every soldier” and “does everything necessary for the survival of the fighter”.
More rocket attacks
The Ukrainian air force command reported for its part on the downing last night three cruise missiles and 25 drones during attacks launched by Russia from various directions.
In a statement to Telegram, he specified that Russia has attacked with Shahed-136/131 drones, with Kalibr missiles from ships in the Black Sea and with Kh-101/Kh-555/Kh-555 cruise missiles from air force aircraft. strategic Tu-95MS . .
In addition, “during the day of May 13 and at the beginning of May 14, the Air Force tactical aviation carried out up to fifty sorties to face the enemy and provide air cover for fighters,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Russia’s defense ministry said on Sunday it had carried out night attacks against Ukrainian troop deployment points and ammunition depots in Ternopil (west) and Petropavlivka (central-east).
“The targets of the attack have been hit,” read a military statement.
the counteroffensive
The Ukrainian president, Volodímir Zelenski, was convinced that his country he is “almost ready” for victoryreferring to the expected counter-offensive that could begin, he added, after a couple more visits to Western partners seeking military support.
“We are motivated and I think we are almost ready for that victory,” Zelenski said during a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
His main adviser, Mikhailo Podolyak, in turn considered the fighting at Bakhmut They are the “prelude” to the counteroffensive and a kind of “door” that can lead to the success of that military operation.
Meanwhile, according to Russian analyst Sergei Markov, the Ukrainian counter-offensive “is already underway” and has various aspects.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.