Russia claims to have fully captured Bakhmut
President Vladimir Putin praised his commanders, calling the reported "full capture of the eastern Ukrainian town" an important victory after a prolonged campaign, and said it would help Moscow achieve its broader war objectives.
If the town's fall is confirmed, Moscow would gain a platform to push northward, targeting the two largest cities in the Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control: Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
Reuters reported that the Ukrainian side has not yet made any immediate comments on Bakhmut. Ukraine has stated in recent weeks that it has successfully blocked Russian attacks in the northern part of the town. Although both sides' maps show the town is under significant pressure from Russian forces, with Moscow's troops having advanced deep into the town, the news agency could not immediately verify either side's claims.
Since mid-2024, Russian forces have faced fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops in the battle for Bakhmut. Bakhmut was once a strategic logistics hub for the Ukrainian army; Russia refers to the town by the Soviet-era name "Krasnoarmeysk."
Late Monday, a video released by the Kremlin showed Putin, dressed in military uniform and sitting in a command center, telling senior military officials: "I want to thank you. This is an important direction, and we all understand how important it is."
Original: toutiao.com/article/1850383897938944/
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