Russia’s Wagner group says that the east Ukrainian city, Bakhmut has been captured,
Ukraine denies the claim of capture.
On Saturday, 20th May Russia announced that it has captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which is known as the epicentre of the ongoing fighting in the region. President Vladimir Putin reportedly congratulated his troops and the private mercenary group Wagner for their role in the capture of the city.
Eight-month battle for the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which is considered the longest and bloodiest conflict in the region. Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the military company Wagner, claimed in a video posted on Telegram that the city was under complete control.
The army’s announcement came at the time when Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, acknowledged that the situation is still “Critical” while the battle is going on. Volodymyr Zelensky was reportedly meeting with G7 leaders in Japan during this time.
Why is Bakhmut the epicentre of fighting?
Bakhmut, a town known for its salt-mining industry, was an important industrial centre, surrounded by salt and gypsum mines and with a previous population of 70,000 people, had become the site of the longest and bloodiest battle of Russia’s year-long offensive in Ukraine.
In the midst of the invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, the city of Bakhmut was besieged by Russian forces, resulting in extensive destruction and the displacement of its residents. The invading troops caused significant damage to the city, leading to the evacuation of the majority of the population.
Bakhmut, once a thriving community, fell victim to the ravages of war during the ongoing conflict. Before the claim, Ukraine had partial control of the city while forces fought to take control.
The potential fall of Bakhmut, where both Moscow and Kyiv are believed to have incurred significant losses. This event is seen as a crucial opportunity for Moscow to achieve a significant victory following a series of embarrassing defeats.
This development occurs just before a planned counteroffensive by Kyiv, which has been in preparation for several months.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has cautioned that the capture of Bakhmut would enable forces to seize additional territories in the Donbas region.
Wagner taunted Ukraine’s president Zelensky
During the Group of Seven (G-7) summit in Hiroshima, Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden met. Meanwhile, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the military company Wagner, taunted Zelensky by suggesting that he should greet Biden on Prigozhin’s behalf. The statement adds a provocative element to the meeting between Zelensky and Biden.
Ukraine’s Response to the Claim
Ukrainian deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar contradicted this claim, stating that heavy fighting was ongoing and that Ukrainian forces still maintained control over certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in the area.
The battle for Bakhmut has been intense, and if forces have indeed taken control, they will face the challenge of capturing the remaining part of the Donetsk region still held by Ukraine. the casualty numbers have not been disclosed by either side, but both are believed to have suffered significant losses.
