The Russian army is effectively advancing near the eastern Ukrainian towns of Bakhmut and Vuhledar, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Tuesday.
Military operations are at the moment advancing with success in the locations around Vuhledar and Artemovsk, Shoigu informed a defense meeting utilizing the previous name for Bakhmut.He noted seven settlements that Russia has actually recently liberated, including the salt-mining town of Soledar that came under Russian control in January.Shoigu then implicated the United States and its allies in the West of attempting to drag out the conflict as long as possible, describing the military help assured to Kyiv by its American and European allies.
Such steps draw NATO nations into the dispute and could see it escalate unexpectedly, he added.According to Shoigu, Ukraine has actually lost more than 6,500 soldiers in the past month in addition to 26 aircraft, seven helicopters and 341 tanks.Russias forces have actually been trying to seize control of Bakhmut in the eastern region of Donetsk for months in what has become the longest and bloodiest fight because Russia invaded Ukraine last February.On Sunday, the head of Russias well-known Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin said that heavy combating was underway in the northern parts of Bakhmut.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday swore to fight for Bakhmut as long as we can.
Western officials apparently approximate that Russias casualties in its nearly year-long invasion are nearing 200,000 men killed or injured, The New York Times reported this month.AFP contributed reporting.