Russian Troops “Destroy” Hundreds Of Ukrainian Forces In Battle (Worthy News Radio)

By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News

BAKHMUT/MOSCOW/BUDAPEST (Worthy News) – Russia says its forces continue to attack Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region and claims to have killed over 220 Ukrainian troops over the past 24 hours. However, the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine has caused hardship on both sides.

Russia’s defense ministry said Sunday that Russian troops are involved in ongoing military operations in Donetsk, killing hundreds of Ukrainian forces over the past 24 hours.

It said that in the Donetsk direction, Russian forces, in its words, “destroyed” more than 220 Ukrainian service members.

The ministry added they “destroyed an infantry fighting vehicle, three armored fighting vehicles, seven vehicles, and a D-30 howitzer” field artillery piece during the day.

Reporters could not independently verify the defense ministry’s claim, but western observers say both sides claim to have inflicted significant losses.

Ukraine said on Saturday that more than 500 Russian troops had been killed or wounded in a recent 24-hour period as they battled for control of the devastated city of Bakhmut.

Russian forces and troops from the privately run Wagner group of mercenaries have captured territory in the eastern part of Bakhmut and the outskirts to the north and south.

BATTLE OF BAKHMUT

But Ukrainian authorities say they have failed to encircle it entirely despite months of fighting. The so-called “Battle of Bakhmut” is believed to have killed and injured many thousands of troops on both sides as well as local civilians.

However, the paramilitary Wagner group chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claims his forces are nearing the center of the devastated city. “This is the building of the town administration; this is the center of the town,” Prigozhin said in a video, pointing towards a building in the distance.

“It is one kilometer and two hundred meters away,” he claimed while standing on the roof of a high-rise building. He said the most important thing now was to receive ammunition and “move forward.”

Prigozhin seemed to confirm that Russian forces have faced significant ammunition shortages amid recent British intelligence reports that Russian soldiers are being ordered to fight Ukrainian forces with only “firearms and shovels.”

The strategic value of Bakhmut city has been disputed. But Moscow believes capturing the town, now turned into ruins, would punch a hole in Ukrainian defenses.

That would mean another step towards seizing the Donbas industrial region, a significant target in the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began in February last year.

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