Is the alleged conquest of Bakhmut a ruse?

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Bakhmut has been completely in Russian hands since 12 noon on Saturday, says Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. In a video he announces that his mercenaries have now completely taken over the city that has been fought over for months. And only them, without the help of the Russian army. “There was only the Wagner group here. No one was here to help us.”

The Ministry of Defense in Moscow also announced the capture of the city. Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin congratulated the Wagner troops in the evening.

The Russian account is disputed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. Although the situation in the city is “critical”, Ukrainian soldiers controlled certain areas. The deputy defense minister said Ukrainian soldiers were still stationed at certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in the southwest corner of Bakhmut.

Already threatened with withdrawal

Prigozhin’s message only justifies his imminent withdrawal from Bakhmut, said Serhiy Cherevati, spokesman for the Ukrainian Armed Forces command staff responsible for eastern Ukraine. Prigozhin had previously threatened to withdraw by May 25.

Prigozhin wants to withdraw his mercenaries from the devastated city, which could soon be surrounded by flanking attacks from Ukrainian fighters, Cherevati told Free Radio. Cherewati even says that the Wagner group is on the verge of collapse.

‘He runs away with his tail between his legs’

About Prigozhin he says: «He says he will withdraw his troops. He runs away with his tail between his legs because he has lost his best people. In fact, his Wagner group is broken.”

The commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, General Oleksandr Sirski, also said that the battle for Bakhmut was not over. “There will continue to be fighting for every meter of territory.” On Saturday afternoon, he released a video showing Ukrainian special forces operating in the city, he said.

Russians want to undermine Ukrainian morale

According to Deputy Defense Secretary Hanna Maliar, this is not the only disinformation being spread by Russia. It is rumored that the commander-in-chief of Ukrainian troops, Valery Zalushni, has disappeared. That’s lame. “He’s still here doing his job. I just spoke to him.”

This campaign is a classic example of an information strategy aimed at demoralizing Ukrainian troops. “The timing is clear: tensions in Bakhmut are at their peak and demoralizing even a handful of our soldiers would make it easier for them. That is also why they are spreading all these hasty reports about the ‘taking’ of Bakhmut.” (new)

Source: Blick