Russia claims capture of town near Ukraine's strategic city of Bakhmut

Russian military forces have reportedly taken control of a settlement south of the strategic city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine amid heightened tensions over the continued flow of Western weapons and munitions into the war-ravaged country.

The Wagner private military company claimed on Friday the capture of Klishchiivka, around nine kilometers south of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, one of four regions that joined the Russian Federation last year.

Klishchiivka, with a pre-war population of around 400 people, housed units of the Russian-backed Wagner forces who had been involved for months in a fierce battle with the Ukrainian government forces.

The Russian defense ministry has not yet confirmed the development.

Last week, the Wagner private military company claimed its forces had managed to fully seize control of Soledar, a salt mining town in the eastern region of Donetsk.

Both Russia and Ukraine have conceded heavy losses in the fight for Soledar and the nearby larger town of Bakhmut.

Moscow says Russian forces have so far succeeded in making significant progress towards “demilitarizing” Ukraine, one of the goals set out by President Vladimir Putin when he launched the “special operation” in February 2022.

The battlefield gains come as the United States and its European allies spare no efforts to boost the Ukrainian military effectiveness through the provision of an assortment of advanced missiles and equipment for Kiev.

The United States on Thursday announced a whopping new package of arms and munitions for Ukraine worth $2.5 billion, defying Moscow’s repeated warnings against supplying Kiev with heavy weaponry almost a year into the devastating war.

The Kremlin has on numerous occasions warned that Western military assistance to Kiev will only prolong the war.

MG