Time.news – The leader of the group of Russian mercenaries Wagner he said in a video released today that his forces are near the center of the front’s hot spot Bakhmut. In the video on Telegram, it shows Yevgeny Prigozhin standing on the roof of a skyscraper in what is said to be Bakhmut. “This is the city administration building, this is the center of the city,” Prigozin said in the video, pointing to a building in the distance. “It’s a mile and two hundred yards away,” he said.
The most important thing now is to receive ammunition and “move on”, the so-called “Putin’s chef” said again. Wagner led offensives against eastern Ukrainian cities, including Bakhmut, in what became the longest and bloodiest fighting of the year-long Russian assault. Both sides suffered heavy casualties around Bakhmut, site of a crucial Donbass highway junction.
Prigozhin, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, has been embroiled in a power struggle with Defense Ministry Sergei Shoigu and has repeatedly claimed his battlefield victories over the Russian military. Prigozhin has often criticized the top leadership of the Federation and accused the army of not sharing ammunition with its infantry forces.
Wagner’s men have begun the battle for the control of the Azom metallurgical plant, Prigozhin added on Telegram. The founder of the Russian private army recorded the video from the roof of a building near the battle line, and showed the location of the main Ukrainian fortifications which were overrun by Russian troops. Prigozhin reiterated that Ukrainian forces will attempt a counteroffensive from the north of the city: “It is important for us that regular forces cover our flanks. If the flanks are covered, everything will be in order.”
Even a US think tank, the ISW, confirmed the advance of Russian troops in the city, the scene of fierce fighting for eight months. “The geolocated images indicate that Russian forces have advanced to new positions in the northwest of Bakhmut, 800 meters from the Azom metal plant.”
According to a well-known Russian military blogger, Rybar, Wagner’s “assault groups” have already entered the plant, but the news has not been confirmed. Rybar also warned that storming the structure – which is sprawling, with a network of underground passageways and dozens of floors underground – will be “complicated”.