Wagner assault troops are trying to break through Ukrainian defense, advance to Bakhmut’s center

The Commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, made the statement, the Ministry of Defense reports on Facebook.

"The situation around Bakhmut remains difficult. Wagner's assault units are advancing from several directions, trying to break through the defense of our troops and advance to the central areas of the city," he emphasized.

In the course of fierce fighting, Ukrainian defenders are inflicting significant losses on Russian forces.

"All enemy attempts to capture the city are repelled by artillery, tanks and other firepower. The defense of the fortress continues!" added Syrskyi.

• On March 12, Denys Yaroslavsky, commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said on Espreso TV that Bakhmut could be a repeat of Debaltseve - the same situation when the roads are cut off and a targeted withdrawal of troops could jeopardize the entire convoy.

• Defense Express expert Ivan Kyrychevskyi noted that the Ukrainian defense forces destroyed a fairly large group of Russian troops near Bakhmut, which could have tried to re-attack Kyiv.