The Russian flag flies atop the Bachmoet Town Hall, Wagner group leader says. “But it’s not that simple,” refutes former commander Mart de Kruif. “The encirclement of the city is certainly not complete yet.”
Reports from Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner group, suggest a drastic change in the battle for Bachmut. They would be in the hands of Wagner’s troops and the Russian flag would even fly on top of the town hall.
The latter may very well be, says former army commander Mart de Kruif, but taking a city isn’t that simple. ‘You really have to stand with your feet in the clay and reclaim your land. Otherwise any claim is useless.’
“Also, Ukrainians can still use two roads to get in and out of the city,” de Kruif says. So the encirclement is certainly not complete. Parts of the city are still in Ukrainian hands.”
The enemy can be anywhere
It is extremely difficult to estimate the exact situation on site, the former commander admits. Fighting in cities is terrible. You can’t see anything and the enemy can be anywhere. These are blows that can last a very long time. Often there is not even a first line. “It’s very confusing and you really don’t know who is where.”
‘Often there isn’t even a first line. It’s very confusing and you really don’t know who is where’
The battle for Bachmoet has become symbolic, says Mart de Kruif. “And for Kiev, fighting every day in Bachmut means that the Russians cannot use scarce resources, grenades and people in another offensive.”
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Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
