This fortified city, despite its disputed strategic importance, has become a symbol of the struggle for control of the Donbass region.
The head of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, Yevgeny Prigojine, claimed responsibility this Saturday for his men’s capture of the village of Yaguidné on the northern outskirts of Bakhmout, a town that Moscow troops have been trying to capture since the summer.
The conquest of Yagidné further entrenched the Russian stranglehold on Bakhmout, the village located less than two kilometers from the center of this fortified town of disputed strategic importance but which has become a symbol of the struggle for control of the Donbass region. in eastern Ukraine.
“On February 25 at 7 p.m. Wagner’s assault units took full control of the village of Yagidné north of Bakhmout,” said Evguéni Prigojine, quoted by his press service on Telegram.
A destroyed dam
A photo on the Telegram account shows armed and masked men with a Wagner flag in front of the entrance sign to the village of Iaguidné.
According to Wagner’s press service, quoted by TASS agency, Ukrainian troops blew up a dam near Bakhmout to slow down the advance of Russian forces.
“Indeed, Ukrainian forces blew up the dam,” the press service said, adding that it was a dam on Lake Pivnivchny, located west of Bakhmout.
These claims were immediately unverifiable by an independent source.
fierce fights
Russian forces have been trying to encircle Bakhmout for several weeks and have cut off several important supply routes for Ukrainian troops.
This Friday, the Wagner group, which is on the front lines in this battle, had claimed the capture of Berkhivka north of Bakhmout and last week that of Paraskoviïvka.
Tensions have risen sharply in recent weeks between the paramilitary group and the Russian army, with Yevgeny Prigoyine accusing the latter of not providing him with the ammunition he needs.