Putin hails Russian forces, Wagner Group on control of Bakhmut
Yesterday, the head of the Wagner Group private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the Russian Armed Forces have gained full control over the city of Bakhmut.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a BRICS+ meeting during the BRICS summit via a video link in the Moscow region, Russia June 24, 2022. (Reuters)
The Kremlin press service said on Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated the Russian armed forces and Wagner Group private military company (PMC) for their joint efforts in liberating the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR).
"Vladimir Putin congratulates the Wagner assault units, as well as all the servicemen of the units of the Russian Armed Forces, who provided them with the necessary support and flank cover, on the completion of the operation to liberate Artemovsk [Bakhmut]," the Kremlin press service said in a statement.
"All distinguished individuals will be presented for state awards," the Kremlin said.
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Yesterday, the head of the Wagner Group private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that the Russian Armed Forces have gained full control over the city of Bakhmut.
Shortly after, the Russian Defense Ministry confirmed that the liberation of Bakhmut had been completed.
"In the Artemovsk [Bakhmut] tactical direction, as a result of the offensive actions of the Wagner assault units, with the support of artillery and aviation of the Yug Group of Forces, the liberation of the city of Artemovsk was completed," the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.
Bakhmut, situated north of Donetsk, holds strategic significance for the course of the war. The city had long been the transportation route of food and supplies for the Ukrainian troops stationed in Donbass.
In January this year, Prigozhin announced that Soledar became under the control of Russian forces.
Five hundred Ukrainian troops were reportedly killed in Soledar after refusing to capitulate, according to Prigozhin.
On September 30, 2022, President Vladimir Putin and the heads of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics, as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, signed agreements on the accession of these territories to Russia, following referenda that showed that an overwhelming majority of the local population supported becoming part of Russia.
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