‘Kiss Biden on prime of his head’, Wagner chief publicizes Russian seize of Bakhmut; Kyiv denies

Russia’s Wagner group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned that Russian fighters had accomplished the seize of Bakhmut, a declare which was promptly rejected by Kyiv.

Showing in entrance of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners, Prigozhin made the declare in a video posted on Telegram.

“Immediately, at 12 midday, Bakhmut was fully taken,” Prigozhin mentioned. “We fully took the entire metropolis, from home to deal with.”

Ukrainian army spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi informed Reuters: “This isn’t true. Our items are combating in Bakhmut.”

Presently on the finish of its fifteenth month, the battle for management over Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest battle of the continuing battle in Ukraine.

Right here, WION’s Sneha Swaminathan explains Bakhmut’s strategic significance within the ongoing battle between Russia and Ukraine, in WION Datalabs.

The Wagner group’s chief mentioned that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut from Might 25 for recoupment and relaxation and hand over the management to common Russian military.

Kiss Biden on prime of his head: Wagner chief to Zelensky

Wagner chief’s video asserting Russian seize of Bakhmut coincided with the assembly of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Joe Biden in Japan’s Hiroshima on the sidelines of Group of Seven (G-7) summit.

Prigozhin taunted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on his assembly with Biden.

Addressing Zelenskyy, Prigozhin mentioned: “Immediately once you see Biden, kiss him on the highest of his head, say hello to him from me.”

In the meantime, Prigozhin additionally repeated his grievances in direction of common Russian military and defence ministry in Moscow. He mentioned that his forces suffered far heavier losses due to the insufficient assist and ammunition provides from the military.

Due to Russian paperwork and the “whims” of Shoigu and Chief of Workers Valery Gerasimov, “5 occasions extra guys died than they need to have”, he mentioned in Saturday’s video.

Seize of Bakhmut Russia’s key fast battle intention: British intelligence

British defence intelligence mentioned on Saturday it was “extremely probably” that Russia had deployed as much as a number of battalions to strengthen the Bakhmut sector, following Ukrainian tactical good points on the flanks of the city. It mentioned this represented a “notable dedication by the Russian command”.

“Russia’s management probably proceed to see capturing Bakhmut as the important thing fast battle intention which might permit them to assert some extent of success within the battle,” it mentioned on Twitter.

ALSO WATCH | Wagner Chief Prigozhin provided to share positions of Russian troops: Report

Prigozhin has himself acknowledged that Bakhmut, a metropolis of 70,000 folks earlier than the battle, had no strategic significance, however it took on large symbolic significance for either side due to the sheer depth of the combating and the dimensions of losses.

(With inputs from companies)

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