The Russian defense minister said on Tuesday that capturing the town of Bagmouth, the epicenter of months of heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine, was essential to continuing the Russian offensive.
“This city is an important node (of the line) for the defense of Ukrainian soldiers in Donbass. Taking it under control will make it possible to carry out deep new offensive operations against the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” Sergei Shoigu televised during a meeting of his ministry’s executives.
Since the summer, Bagmouth has been the center of a Russian offensive, which has so far destroyed the town without allowing its occupation. In recent weeks, the Russians have made little progress and now appear to be controlling access to the city to the north, south and east, creating the threat of an encirclement.
The paramilitary group Wagner’s troops lead the offensive, according to its founder Evguéni Prigojine, at the cost of very significant losses.
The latter is in open conflict with the military hierarchy, which he constantly accuses of not providing enough ammunition to his men engaged in the front line at Bagmouth.
On the Ukrainian side, amid growing speculation of a withdrawal, officials announced on Monday that they were not giving up the city and were instead sending reinforcements.
This is because, according to Ukrainian officials, the war allows to weaken the Russian forces, which suffered heavy losses there without gaining a decisive advantage, and the city has no obvious strategic interest at this time.
At the same time, Ukraine says it is preparing for a counter-offensive, while waiting for new Western weapons to be delivered soon.
Bagmouth has become highly symbolic since the summer of both sides’ attempts to control the town, which today has fewer than 4,000 inhabitants, against about 70,000 before the Russian military intervention began.
