In a briefing on Saturday, Russia’s Defence Ministry said assault soldiers were fighting in western Bakhmut, Kyiv’s last holdout.
For months, Ukrainian and Russian forces have fought over the eastern city, which is mostly destroyed. The defense ministry did not report recent combat.
Kyiv claimed Russian soldiers had gained minor breakthroughs in tough Bakhmut combat but was in control.
“Decisions are being made according to military expediency,” Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar tweeted on Telegram.
In a video message, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Kyiv was busy developing new front-line forces. Zelenskiy and others have repeatedly pledged an offensive.
On Friday, Wagner Group commander Yevgeny Prigozhin expressed anxiety about a Ukrainian counterattack.
“Today we are killing those who were trained in Ukraine but the ones coming from Germany will be technologically educated,” he stated in a Telegram clip, referring to Ukrainians who will be taught to use US-supplied Abrams tanks.
The West gave 1,500 armored vehicles and 230 tanks. This can also cause serious opposition.”
After spring rains, Ukraine would hit.
“They will attack…they will come and try to tear us apart, and we must resist,” he stated.
