The Russian military denies any “breakthrough” of its defenses by Ukrainian forces

The Russian military denied in a press release Thursday evening that there had been any “breakthrough” by Ukrainian forces, alarming pro-Russian military bloggers and the boss of the paramilitary group Wagner.

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Many pro-Russian bloggers continued to worry about the situation on the ground after Thursday evening’s Ukrainian troop movements, particularly the abandonment of positions by Russian soldiers near Baghmouth, the epicenter of fighting in eastern Ukraine.

“Individual Telegram channels, reports of alleged ‘defense developments’ in various areas of communication are untrue,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

In his statement last day, he promised that some Ukrainian attacks had been thwarted, without distinguishing between Ukrainian attacks and reconnaissance operations on the frontline from those reported in previous days and weeks.

AFP

According to the Russian ministry, the only fighting in the evening is near Malinivka in the Donetsk region, involving the air force and artillery.

However, the ministry did not address reports of a Russian retreat near Bagmouth, saying only that “attack units continue to liberate the western part” of the town, where the last pockets are located. Ukrainians.

“The general situation in the area of ​​special military operation is under control,” he said.

These claims were not immediately verified by an independent source.

Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose men are on the front lines of the battle for Bagmouth, has been announcing his role for three days as Russian soldiers retreat to the city’s edges in the face of Ukrainian attacks. A senior officer in Kiev.

AFP

On Thursday, Mr. Prigozhin said the Ukrainian military had sent units trained and equipped with Western weapons, which Kyiv had kept in reserve for the much-anticipated counterattack.

“Territories captured for months with the blood and lives of our comrades in arms (…) today, almost without a fight, have been abandoned by those who should have taken our sides,” he said in an audio message. On a bike for the regular Russian army.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky promised in an interview with the BBC on Thursday that his troops needed more time before launching a major counteroffensive aimed at pushing Russian forces back from areas they occupied.