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Russian Officials Claim Moscow Troops Control 75% of Bakhmut Region. PHOTO/Reuters
BAKHMUT – Head of the department of the Donetsk region Ukraine which is dominated Russia said on Monday (10/4/2023), that Russian forces control more than 75 percent of the area of the besieged city of Bakhmut.
The battle for Bakhmut has been one of the bloodiest of the 13 month war, drawing comparisons to the First World War because of the heavy casualties on both sides.
The Moscow-mounted regional leader, Denis Pushilin, published footage of himself on Telegram purportedly visiting a small mining town where fighting has been raging since last summer.
He is seen among the wreckage, wearing body armor and explosions are heard in the background. Reuters could not independently confirm the location or date of the video.
“I can say with absolute certainty that more than 75 percent of the city is under the control of our unit,” Pushilin told state-run Rossiya-24 TV channel.
Even so, according to Pushilin, it is too early to talk about it. the fall of Bakhmut. Russia says capturing Bakhmut will open up the possibility of future attacks across Ukraine, while Kiev and the West say the now-destroyed city is of only symbolic importance.
In the video from an unknown underground location, Pushilin graces the fighters from the Wagner Group mercenary army who have spearheaded the assault on Bakhmut.
(esn)