Russian troops captured another village in their offensive against the Ukrainian fortress of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, as announced today (December 18, 2022) by Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Defense Ministry.
Russian units are currently trying to put an end to the last pockets of Ukrainian resistance in the town of Yakovlivka, the Russian general said in his daily war report. Konashenkov stated that the enemy tried to regain territory with the help of armored vehicles, but said that the incursion was rejected.
Earlier, Moscow reported the capture of the towns of Kurdiumivka and Ozarianivka, south of Bakhmut, with the help, according to Kyiv, of large numbers of ex-convicts being used as “cannon fodder.”
This week, Donetsk’s interim governor, separatist Denis Pushilin, admitted that the Wagner private military company’s assault units are tightening the siege of Bakhmut.
Ukraine attacks Russia’s Belgorod region
While Russia is attacking in Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces have been attacking the Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. At least one person was killed and eight injured in the attack.
Gladkov assured that the anti-aircraft batteries would have to spring into action to repel the attack, which did not prevent some projectiles from hitting the region. On his Telegram channel, he explained that the injured were hospitalized and one of them is in intensive care. Several houses, multi-storey buildings, cars and a chicken factory were also damaged.
mn (efe, afp)