Ukraine’s counterattacks hit Russian positions

By Felix Okpe, Abuja

Ukraine says it is regaining territory again as Russian troops are presently fleeing from the war zone.

According to the Ukrainian forces, they are conducting “effective counterattacks” in the Bakhmut area, in comments that are in line with claims from the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner that Kyiv has recaptured some territory.

However, Yevgeny Prigozhin on Wednesday accused a Russian brigade of abandoning its position in front-line Bakhmut, allowing Ukraine to seize territory.
He had repeatedly accused the Defence Ministry of failing to give his forces the supplies they needed.

Congress News gathered that Bakhmut had been engulfed with a months-long assault by Russian forces, including Wagner mercenaries, that had driven thousands from their homes and left the area devastated. But despite the vast amounts of manpower Russia had poured into capturing the city, they have been unable to take total control, and on Wednesday suffered heavy losses in the area.

The Ukrainian troops exclaimed during their offensive attack on Wednesday:
“Thanks to our well-thought-out defence in the Bakhmut sector, we are getting results from the effective actions of our units,” the commander of Ukrainian Land Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, said on Telegram.

Prigozhin continued his public criticism of Moscow’s military leadership.

Wagner boss fumes that Russian brigade ‘fled’ from Bakhmut area
“In particular, we are conducting effective counterattacks. In some areas of the front, the enemy was unable to withstand the onslaught of Ukrainian defenders and retreated to a distance of up to 2 kilometres,” he added.

“Despite a significant concentration of troops and loud statements by Russian war criminals about their intentions to take Bakhmut by May 9, the enemy failed to capture the Ukrainian city. Our defence forces are holding the frontline securely and preventing the enemy from advancing. The battle for Bakhmut continues.”

He singled out the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, which was involved in an assault on the positions of the 72nd Brigade and “inflicted a powerful strike on the enemy in the battle.”

‘They just ran the hell out of there
Prigozhin has also indicated that Ukrainian forces have been able to advance south of Bakhmut. He earlier fumed that a Russian brigade “fled” from the Bakhmut area, allowing Ukrainians to seize kilometres of territory.

Prighozhin further said that the “72nd brigade force up three square kilometres today, on which I had about 500 people killed. Because it was a strategic bridgehead. They just ran the hell out of there.”

As for soldiers fleeing, Prigozhin said: “That’s not the soldiers’ problem. It is the problem of those who manage them and who set the tasks. The fish rots from the head.”

Congress learnt that the latest developments mark the dramatic turn of events in an area, where gains and losses had usually been measured in a few meters. There is jubilation in the camp of Ukrainian.