War in Ukraine. Bachmuth is “virtually surrounded”, according to the head of Wagner.

The city of Bakhmut is the epicenter of the fighting in the east of Ukrainepractically surrounded by the Russian forces, on Friday, March 3, the head of the “Wagner” paramilitary group announced.

“Wagner’s units have practically surrounded Bakhmut, there is only one way leftto get out of it, Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video published by his press service on Telegram.

“Opportunity to leave the city”

Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose men are on the front lines of this battle, called on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to order Ukrainian troops out of the city, which is now largely destroyed and where both sides have suffered heavy casualties.

“If earlier we were faced with a professional Ukrainian army fighting against us, today we see more and more old people and children. They fight, but their life in Bakhmut is short, one or two dayslaunched Evguéni Prigojine. “Give them a chance to leave the city, it’s practically surrounded“, he added.

A highly symbolic city

The video then shows three people, an elderly man and two young men, begging Vladimir Zelensky on camera to let them leave. Despite its strategic importance disputed by experts, Bakhmut has become a symbol of the struggle for control of the industrial region of Donbass. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who went there in December, vowed to protect this fortress city.as long as possible“.

The command of the armed forces of Ukraine accepted a situation on Tuesday.too tenseagainst Russian attacks. Russian forces have advanced north and south of Bakhmut in recent weeks, cutting off three of Ukraine’s four supply routes to the city. The only exit route left was the one leading west to Chasiv Iar, south of which the Russians were also trying to advance.