“The Ukrainians are now in a good position, if necessary, to continue their attacks and surround the Russian forces in Bakhmut or simply hold the lines if they want to use their assembled forces elsewhere,” former Finnish intelligence chief Gen. Pekka Toveri told. “Bakhmut has not been conquered,” Volodymyr Zelensky assured on Sunday.
The Finnish general estimates that the fighting in Bakhmut is “probably not over yet”.
“The Russians are trying to make a big propaganda story out of it, but in practice it doesn’t have a significant impact on the course of the war, ” comments Toveri.
On Saturday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagnerists, announced the final capture of the city. The Ukrainian side did not confirm these reports, but as Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malar pointed out yesterday, the situation in the city was supposed to be “critical”.
On Sunday, Volodymyr Zelensky, who is in Japan, commented on the situation in Bakhmut. – Today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing left of this place,” the Ukrainian president said, causing a huge stir. Zelensky also noted that after the fighting, only many “fallen Russians” remained in the city.
Zelensky spoke again on Sunday about the situation at the front. ” Bachmut has not been conquered ,” he insisted firmly. – We hold on and fight thanks to the courage of our soldiers. There are no misunderstandings. I understand perfectly well what is happening in Bakhmut ,” he said, making it clear that the battle was still going on.
” Ukrainian defenders maintain fortifications in the south-western part of Bakhmut in the Donbas, which is under attack by Russian troops, ” said Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern Grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Sunday.
– The president said it right: the city is actually wiped off the face of the earth. The enemy destroys them every day through massive artillery and air strikes, and our units inform that the situation is extremely difficult.
The deputy head of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Kiev’s troops managed to take Bakhmut in a “half-circle”.
“Our troops have taken the city in a half-encirclement, which gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy. This means that the enemy must defend himself in the part of the city he controls, ” wrote Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Malar in the Telegram communicator.
Toveri points out that now everything depends on Ukraine’s reaction. “Now is a good opportunity to attack elsewhere,” the Finnish general argues.