The circle tightens around Bakhmut, Vladimir Zelensky says Ukrainian forces are determined to stay in the city, the UN chief is in Kiev on Wednesday, EU defense ministers meet in Stockholm… Le Figaro provides an update on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine this Wednesday, March 8.
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Wagner says that he conquered the entire “eastern part” of Bakhmut.
Wagner, the leader of the Russian paramilitary group, announced on Wednesday that his troops had captured “the entire eastern partFrom the city of Bakhmut, which is the epicenter of battles in the east of Ukraine. “Wagner’s units occupied the entire eastern part of Bakhmut, everything east of the Bakhmutka River.Yevgeny Prigogine said in an audio message published by her press service.
In recent days, pressure has increased sharply on Ukrainian forces defending Bakhmut, facing Russian advances and the threat of encirclement. In its latest report, published on Tuesday, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank, said that Kremlin troops “presumablycaptured the eastern part of the city “controlled withdrawalUkrainian forces in this area.
HAVE ALSO – The capture of Bakhmut is necessary for the continuation of the Russian offensive in Ukraine, according to Moscow
The troops of the Wagner paramilitary group have been carrying out this attack for months, at the cost of very significant losses, as even the leader of this group of mercenaries, Yevgeny Prigogine, admits. The latter is in open conflict with the Russian military hierarchy, whom he accuses of not providing sufficient ammunition to his men working on the front lines of Bakhmut. According to him, the Russian lines will collapse if his troops fall back.
Zelensky defends the strategic value of Bakhmut
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Wednesday that if Bakhmut is captured, the Russian army “the free wayadvance in eastern Ukraine. Russian after Bakhmutcould have gone further. They could go to Kramatorsk, they could go to Sloviansk, the way would be clear” for them “to other cities of Ukraine“, the President of Ukraine stated in the interview CNN:.
According to the confession of Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu, Bakhmut.is an important junction (lines) for the protection of Ukrainian soldiers in Donbass.“, he announced during the meeting on Tuesday. “Capturing it will allow for new deep offensive operations“.
Ukrainian forces are determined to remain on the ground, in the largely destroyed Bakhmut, the President of Ukraine emphasized. CNN:. “Yesterday I had a meeting with the chief of staff and the commanders in chief (…) and they all said that we should stay strong in Bakhmut.“, he said in this exclusive interview to the American TV channel. “Of course, we have to think about the lives of our soldiers. But we must do all we can while we get weapons, supplies and our army prepares for a counter-offensive.“, he added.
Yesterday, Vladimir Zelensky disputed speculation of a tactical withdrawal and ordered forces to be sent to the near-destroyed city, despite recent Russian advances and the threat of an encirclement. While Bakhmut’s strategic value is disputed, the city has gained symbolic and tactical importance given the heavy losses suffered by both sides.
HAVE also – Bakhmut. During the bombing near the epicenter of the battles, residents take shelter in basements.
The head of the United Nations in Kyiv on Wednesday
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Ukraine on Tuesday to meet with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kiev on Wednesday, his third trip since the Russian invasion a year ago.
The Secretary General arrived in Poland on Tuesday morning, from where he continued his journey and entered Ukraine, where he will meet with the head of state of Ukraine on Wednesday to discuss the issue of extending last summer’s international agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain. its two speakers, Stephane Dujarric and Farhan Haque.
Antonio Guterresnow located in UkraineMr. Haque said during his briefing at the UN headquarters in New York. Mr. Dujarric, who is traveling with his secretary general, stated earlier in a press release.On Wednesday morning, he met with President Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the continuation of the Black Sea grain initiative with all its components, as well as other relevant issues.“.
The meeting of defense ministers of the European Union
“Enable economy mode from war“European Union defense ministers met on Wednesday to prepare a plan to supply ammunition to Ukraine despite stocks under pressure, with the first emergency component amounting to one billion euros. Ukraine’s army, which fires thousands of rounds a day to push back the Russian invader, is facing a critical shortage of 155mm rounds for its guns, its Western backers have warned in recent weeks.
The ministers meeting in Stockholm on Wednesday in the presence of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and their Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov should work on a tripartite plan. The aim is to move forward for adoption at a meeting of European diplomatic chiefs on March 20. Relying on large joint purchases to assure manufacturers of continuity of orders, the project aims to both meet Kiev’s immediate needs and increase the capabilities of the European defense industry in the long term.
The first part, developed by EU diplomats, aims to use a billion euros from the European Peace Facility (EFF) to supply the shells to member states’ armies within a few weeks. Ukraine’s European allies have already greatly deepened their military stockpiles, with €12 billion in support, including €3.6 billion from the FEP.
The EU will never accept the Russian threat, von der Leyen said
The president of the European Commission warned that Europe will never accept that Russia threatens its security during a speech in the Canadian parliament to strengthen support for Ukraine. “We will never accept a military power with a dream of empire sending its tanks across an international border.Ursula von der Leyen launched in Ottawa.
27″ blockwill never accept this threat to European security and the foundations of our international community“, he added. The President of the European Commission calledunwavering military and economic supportfor Ukraine, while urging Russiapays for his crime of aggressionafter the proposal to create a special tribunal in November.
On the eve of International Women’s Day, Ursula von der Leyen also saluted the flag-carrying Ukrainian women who were banned from combat operations before the war, but:didn’t care and started going to the army anyway“.
HAVE also – Cyril Hofstein. “NATO is asking itself a question. there is ukrainian nationalism, ukrainian nation, but is there a country?
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.