Battle For Bakhmut: Despite Superior Ukrainian Grouping, Wagner Fighters Do Not Stop Advance

The Wagner PMC which is fighting for the city of Bakhmut warned that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have trained about 200 thousand reservists and received a large amount of military equipment from NATO. The Ukrainian military is expected to attempt large-scaled offensive operations on the Donbass front lines, including in Bakhmut. The head of the Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin urged the Russian Defense Ministry to join forces, because the “Bakhmut meat grinder” can only work well in case of full cooperation.

“Ukrainians have received a large number, a very large number of various NATO equipment, various armored vehicles, tanks, Leopards, <…> and have prepared reserves of about 200 thousand people,” Prigozhin said.

According to Yevgeny Prigozhinm, up to 80,000 Ukrainian servicemen are concentrated in the Bakhmut region, including in Konstantinovka, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Chasov Yar, Seversk and Druzhkivka.

The Ukrainian military attempts to stop Russian advance westwards and prevents Wagner fighters from encircling the city of Bakhmut.

Despite the threat of Ukrainian counter attacks, Wagner fighters do not stop the offensive operations and are still holding the military initiative.

Fierce fighting near Bakhmut has been ongoing for the past few months. On February 20, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Russian control of the village of Paraskoviyivka. On March 15, Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed that Russian forces had taken control of the village of Zaliznyanskoye.

Fighting is ongoing in the village of Khromovo which id the last Ukrainian stronghold on the Russian way to the last road leading to Bkahmut. Wagner forces are storming Ukrainian positions from the northern direction, from the village of Yagodnoe which is under Russian control.

The road from Bakhmut to Konstantinovka remains the only way out of the city used by the Ukrainian military. It is constantly shelled by Russian artillery.

Ukrainian T-64BV destroyed near Bakhmut:

Meanwhile, Wagner fighters are advancing in Bakhmut. About 70% of the city came under Russian control.

Wagner fighters took control of most of the Artemovsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plant. Fighting is ongoing in the southern part of the industrial zone located in the northern quarters of Bakhmut.

Ukrainian fighters hiding in the apartments:

Ukrainian militants armed with American PSRL-1 grenade launchers:

After Russian forces took control of the eastern Zabakhmutka district of the city, they continued their advance towards the city center. They are already a few hundred meters from the administrative center of Bakhmut.

In the southern districts of Bakhmut, heavy street battles continue. Wagner fighters are approaching the last road leading to the city.

To the southwest of the city, fighting is ongoing on the outskirts of the village of Krasnoye. Ukrainian forces have reportedly managed to repel Wagner units from the road but it still cannot be used for transfer of the Ukrainian military.

The reinforcement of Ukrainian grouping in the Bakhmut region, including with the NATO weapons, allowed the Ukrainian military to delay the encirclement of the Ukrainian grouping in the city and slow down Russian advance. However, the transfer of any military supplies to the city is complicated by the Russian fire control of the only road which is under Ukrainian control and the Ukrainian grouping in Bakhmut is still losing positions on the city streets.

MORE ON THE TOPIC:

• Losing Positions On Donbass Front Lines, Kiev Strikes Crimea
• Wagner Fighters Took Control Of Zaliznyanskoe Near Bakhmut
• Pro-Kiev Troops Are On Retreat In Bakhmut Amid Frustration Of Washington Over Incident In Black Sea
• Military Overview: Wagner Fighters Approached City Administration Building In Center Of Bakhmut

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