Ukraine announced on Monday its territorial gains around the region of Bakhmut, as part of a counter-offensive effort. Meanwhile, Russian radio broadcasts had been hacked, while the Wagner Group stated it had been attacked by Russian forces.
Ukraine said Monday that its troops were advancing around Bakhmut while playing down the importance of its “offensive actions”, after Russia said it had repelled a large-scale attack.
Ukraine says it has been preparing a major offensive to recapture territory lost to Russia, but that there would be no announcement about the start of the offensive.
Military experts expect Ukrainian forces to test Russian defenses for weaknesses before starting a full-blown offensive.
But attacks have, in fact, intensified recently, with the latest and most striking being the regular shelling and cross-border incursions from Ukraine in Russia’s southern Belgorod region.
The border breaches have been claimed by Russian anti-Kremlin ultra-nationalists.
Ukraine has consistently denied responsibility for cross-border attacks on Russian soil.
Amid speculation over the offensive, Russian authorities were forced to issue denials on Monday after several radio stations were hacked. It played a fake President Vladimir Putin speech announcing an invasion by Kyiv’s troops and emergency measures in three border regions.
MIR, one of the targeted stations, had announced the loss of its airwaves for 40 minutes in the afternoon, qualifying the relayed information as “provocative and fake”.
The Russian camp also has to face its internal struggles, as the Russian Wagner had stated that it had detained a Russian soldier, showcasing tensions between the mercenary group and the Russian army.
Wagner’s boss, Yevgeny Prigozhin, also said on Monday that Ukraine’s troops had made gains near Bakhmut. He challenged again Russian top generals to visit the front.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
