Russian forces make important advances in strategic city of Bakhmut

“Wagner units have taken over the entire eastern part of Bakhmut. All areas east of the Bakhmutka River are also under our complete control,” Prigozhin said in a video posted on March 8.

Also in the video above, Mr. Prigozhin stands and speaks about Wagner's important progress right next to the famous T-34 tank monument located in the eastern center of Bakhmut.

In theory Russian forces control the eastern bank of the Bakhmutka, the river that runs across the Bakhmutka.

Fighting between Russia and Ukraine inside the city of Bakhmut. (Photo: AFP)

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) confirmed Mr. Prigozhin’s statement. In its daily report on March 7, the ISW expert group said that Russian forces likely captured the eastern part of Bakhmut, the eastern bank of the Bakhmutka River, after a controlled withdrawal of Ukrainian troops in the area.

The fighting in Bakhmut – a major stronghold and logistics hub for Kiev’s forces in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) – has been going on for months. Some officials have described the city as the fiercest front in the conflict between Moscow and Kiev.

Earlier this week, Russian officials said the siege of the city was almost complete and fierce fighting was taking place on the streets of Bakhmut.

Commenting on the situation in Bakhmut, earlier this week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the city is more symbolic than strategically important.

“The fall of Bakhmut does not mean that Russia has changed the course of this war,” the head of the Pentagon said.

Map of the Donetsk region on March 8. (Photo: Al Jazeera)

However, Mr Austin's comments contradict the views of Russian Defense Minister, General Sergei Shoigu, who explained that control of Bakhmut would be a springboard for Russia to launch further offensive operations against Ukraine's defenses in the rest of Donetsk.

For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly affirmed that Ukraine will not surrender in Bakhmut, despite many Western countries and military advisers urging Kiev to withdraw troops to limit losses.

Tra Khanh (Source: russian.rt.com)

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Source: https://vtc.vn/luc-luong-nga-dat-duoc-buoc-tien-quan-trong-o-thanh-pho-chien-luoc-bakhmut-ar746879.html