Category: Bakhmut

Ukraine and Russia Blame Each Other for Partly Destroying Vital Dnipro River Dam

Moscow and Kyiv are trading blame over the partial destruction of a hydroelectric dam on the Dnipro River, which has separated the warring sides since last November. The dam was breached on the morning of June 6, causing widespread flooding in the Kherson region and prompting fears of a humanitarian catastrophe. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy…


Kyiv Downplays Russian Claims to Have Foiled Major Offensive in Donetsk

Moscow’s forces have beaten back a multi-pronged Ukrainian offensive launched in the eastern Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed on June 5. “On June 4, the enemy made an unsuccessful attempt at a large-scale offensive in the South Donetsk direction,” the ministry stated in a daily briefing. It went on to assert that a…


Kyiv Says Russian Forces Ease Attacks on Bakhmut to Regroup

KYIV—Russian forces have temporarily eased their attacks on the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to regroup and strengthen their capabilities, a senior Kyiv official said on Saturday. Russia’s Wagner private army began handing over its positions to regular Russian troops this week after declaring full control of Bakhmut following the longest and bloodiest battle…


Wagner Boss Excoriates Moscow, Says Ukraine Invasion Fell Short of Objectives

The head of the Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has sharply rebuked leaders in Moscow on May 23 saying Russia’s 15-month-long invasion of Ukraine had failed to achieve its primary aims. A private military company with close ties to the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has led much of the fighting in Ukraine, especially in the eastern…


Russia’s Wagner Starts Withdrawing Units From Bakhmut: Prigozhin

MOSCOW—Russia’s Wagner group has started withdrawing its forces from the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut and transferring its positions there to regular Russian troops, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published on Thursday. “We are withdrawing the units from Bakhmut. From today at five in the morning, May 25 until June 1, most of…


Russia’s Prigozhin Claims Capture of Bakhmut, Ukraine Claims Fighting Goes On

Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday his Wagner fighters had completed the capture of Bakhmut, but Ukraine rejected the claim and said fighting was still going on. Prigozhin made the claim in a video in which he appeared in combat fatigues in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners. “Today, at…


Russia Continues Fighting for Bakhmut

The Russian forces have continued their nearly nine-month effort to capture the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of defending Bakhmut in last month’s interview with The Associated Press. saying that its fall could allow Russia to rally international support for a deal that might…


With Spring Offensive in Doubt, Ukrainian Forces Yield Ground in Bakhmut

Ukrainian forces are pulling back from parts of the flashpoint city of Bakhmut amid indications that Kyiv’s planned spring offensive may fail to materialize–at least in the short term. Located in the eastern Donetsk region, Bakhmut (Artyomovsk in Russian) has remained the scene of fierce ground fighting for the past several months.  According to an…


Ukraine Forces Pull Back as Russia Mounts ‘Reenergized’ Bakhmut Assault, UK Says

LONDON—Ukrainian troops have been forced to withdraw from some territory in the battlefield city of Bakhmut as Russia mounts a renewed assault there with intense artillery fire over the past two days, Britain said in an intelligence update on Friday. “Russia has re-energized its assault on the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut as forces of…


Anticipated Ukrainian Counter-Offensive Potentially Marred by Plans Leak: Reports

Several classified documents detailing United States and NATO plans to assist an upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive appear to have been leaked online, according to mainstream media reports. On April 6, the New York Times reported that the documents—which contain sensitive military information—had been posted on Twitter and Telegram and were now being shared on pro-Russia social…