In a Friday video, Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin stated his soldiers “practically surrounded” Bakhmut and that Kyiv’s forces had just one path out.
Prigozhin’s forces have led eastern Ukraine’s attack for months. Moscow uses Bakhmut, formerly Artyomovsk, as a stepping stone to take Kramatorsk and Sloviansk.
In the video, Prigozhin, in military dress, urged Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy to evacuate his soldiers from the little city.
“Wagner’s private military company surrounds Bakhmut. The pincers are tightening “Prigozhin said.
Reuters placed the footage in Paraskoviivka, 4.3 miles (7 km) north of Bakhmut. On February 17, Prigozhin declared Paraskoviivka captured.
Prigozhin stated his forces were battling more old persons and children than the Ukrainian army.
The video then showed three caught Ukrainians—an elderly guy and two young boys—who appeared afraid and requested to go home. They appeared stressed.
Prigozhin published another video Thursday of his fighters inside Bakhmut. Reuters spotted the footage east of Bakhmut, 1.2 miles (2 km) outside the city center.
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