The Russian Presidential Office announced that it is expressing congratulations on President Putin's complete conquest of Bahmut, a fierce battleground in eastern Ukraine, and mentioned military achievements. It denies the occupation of Bahmut by Russia.
On the 21st, the Russian Presidential Office announced that "President Putin is expressing congratulations on the completion of the Bahmut liberation operation."
Prior to this, the Russian Ministry of Defense claimed on social media that as a result of continuing attacks with the private military company Wagner, it completely controlled Bahmut in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine.
Wagner's agent, Mr. Prigozhin, also posted a video on SNS on the 20th, claiming to have controlled the city, withdrawing the troops after the 25th of the same month, and handing over the defense of Bahmut to the Russian army.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima and asked for further support for the counteroffensive. President Putin seems to want to show a stance of continuing military aggression by emphasizing military achievements.
On the other hand, when asked by reporters in the afternoon of the 21st about the announcement by the Russian side that they had control of Bahmut, President Zelensky denied it, saying, "I don't think so."
In addition, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army emphasized on the 21st about the situation in Bahmut, "The enemy is attacking, but the city's battle is continuing," and Deputy Secretary of Defense Malyar also posted on SNS, "The enemy failed to siege Bahmut, and the Russian side lost some of the area around the city. The units of the Ukrainian army are advancing in the suburbs of Bahmut, and it is very difficult for the enemy to be in Bahmut."
The American think tank "Institute for the Study of War" pointed out on the 20th that while it cannot confirm the Russian side's claim of controlling Bahmut, "Mr. Prigozhin claimed victory in Bahmut, but even if it is true, it is only symbolic. It is not important either tactically or operationally."
In addition, it pointed out that the Ukrainian army, which is counterattacking, is putting pressure on the Russian side in the north and south of Bahmut, and analyzed that Mr. Prigozhin's announcement that he will withdraw his troops after the 25th of this month shows that "Mr. Prigozhin has no intention to continue attacking by advancing his forces to the west of Bahmut."
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