Russia wants to take Bakhmut by 9 May, deploying Wagnerites there – Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister, has said that Russia is trying to take control of the city of Bakhmut by 9 May [when Russia celebrates Victory Day, a holiday commemorating the 1945 victory over Nazism – ed.], bringing in mercenaries from the Wagner Private Military Company (PMC) from other fronts.

Source: Maliar on Telegram

Quote: "The enemy is doing its best to take control of Bakhmut by 9 May.

To accomplish this task, they are engaging Wagnerites from other fronts and using them to fill in for the airborne forces currently fighting on the Bakhmut front."

Details: Maliar added that Ukrainian troops are holding Russians at bay.

In addition, Ukrainian artillery fire has destroyed Wagner PMC's ammunition storage points.

Background: On 5 May, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner PMC, wrote a letter to the Russian Defence Ministry, stating that he would withdraw Wagner PMC mercenaries from Bakhmut after 10 May.

Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron!