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KYIV, Might 21 (Reuters) – Ukrainian forces have partly encircled the besieged jap metropolis of Bakhmut alongside the flanks and nonetheless management part of town, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar mentioned on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier on Sunday congratulated the Wagner mercenary pressure and the Russian military a day after Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned his group had captured town.
However Maliar mentioned Ukrainian troops are persevering with their advances alongside Bakhmut’s outskirts and have claimed a part of the heights overlooking town.
“Our forces have taken town in a semi-encirclement, which provides us the chance to destroy the enemy,” she wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
“Due to this fact, the enemy has to defend himself within the a part of town he controls.”
Maliar added that Ukrainian troops are nonetheless defending industrial and infrastructure services in Bakhmut in addition to a non-public sector of town. (Reporting by Dan Peleschuk; Modifying by Elaine Hardcastle, William Maclean)