Bakhmut Is Fully Captured By Russian Army, Wagner Forces (Map)
ISWNews Analysis Group – Finally, after months of fierce and bloody battles to capture the key city of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, Russian army and Wagner forces took full control of this city, and the battles over the Bakhmut city ended.
Following the battles of the Russian army and Wagner PMC forces with the Ukrainian army and its allies, the remaining areas in the northwest and west of this city were also controlled by the Russian army, and the battles in Bakhmut officially ended. It should be noted that since 10 days ago, Russian army forces had dominated more than 90% of Bakhmut city and the fighting continued in the few remaining areas.
At noon today, the head of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the full capture of this city in a video message. He said: “Bakhmut Fortress”. Today this “fortress has fallen” despite all the efforts of more than 80,000 Ukrainian troops that were operating in this direction, not counting the reserves from Kharkiv, Svatovsk, Krasnoliman, and Zaporizhzhya. The remnants of the AFU forces retreated behind Chasov Yar, shielded from Russian forces by undermined bridges. Slavyansk and Kramatorsk have been turned into new fortresses, where new Ukrainian reserves are concentrated. For Russia, the Bakhmutsk battle was also one of the bloodiest and longest since the Great Patriotic War (World War II).”
Prigozhin stated that by May 25, Wagner forces will leave the city of Bakhmut and the positions will be handed over to the units of the Russian Armed Forces.
The main assault to capture the city of Bakhmut was started since 1 August 2022, and by mid-February, the clashes have gradually spread to inside the city of Bakhmut. During the capture of Bakhmut city, thousands of soldiers died on both sides and Bakhmut city was turned into ruins.
The intensity of the battles and losses were so great that this city became known as “Bakhmut Meat Grinder”. During the past few months, the Kiev government and its allies sent everything they could from manpower to military equipment to the city of Bakhmut to prevent the fall of this city, but in the end it was of no use and the city of Bakhmut was out of the control of the Kiev.
The city of Bakhmut is considered as one of the key points in the Donbass region and the control of this city will determine the future of the battles in the region. The next target of the Russian army in this region will be Slavyansk and Kramatorsk.
Read more: Russia Controls 90% Of Bakhmut City (Map)
Comment