Wagner PMC cannot advance in Bakhmut anymore - Ukrainian Armed Forces fighter Iievliev

He shared the information on Espreso TV channel

"If I'm not mistaken, Prigozhin said at the beginning of the month that he would withdraw his mercenaries from Bakhmut on May 9. It was part of their information and psychological operations. Because no one withdrew their units from Bakhmut. As for regular Russian troops, there is a clear feeling that they are more afraid of our army. We can see this. After all, the regular Russian army units are not conducting any offensive actions," Iievliev explained.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier believes that the Defense Forces will be able to hold the defense of Bakhmut and eliminate Wagner mercenaries in the city.

"I believe that Wagner PMC can no longer conduct any offensive actions in Bakhmut, and the regular army will not enter the city. The situation in Bakhmut has become a dead end for Russians. They are coming up with some victories there that do not exist. We are successfully defending ourselves. So I think we will destroy Russians in Bakhmut in the near future," he added.

• On May 20, the leader of Russian Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, released a video with a statement about the alleged complete occupation of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut by Russians. In response, Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Hanna Malyar said that there were heavy battles in Bakhmut and the situation was critical. At the same time, Ukrainian troops are holding the defense in the Litak district.

• The Ukrainian General Staff's evening (May 20) and morning (May 21) reports mentioned the ongoing battle for the city.

• The Russian Defense Ministry announced the capture of the city at midnight on May 21. 

• On May 21, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had taken Bakhmut in a semi-surrounding, which makes it possible to eliminate Russians - Russian troops in the controlled part of the city have to defend itself.

• On the same day, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, commander of the Land Forces, said that Ukrainian soldiers were advancing along the flanks in the suburbs of Bakhmut and were actually approaching the city's tactical encirclement. 

• And the spokesman for the Eastern Group of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Serhiy Cherevaty, emphasized that Ukrainian defenders advanced by about 200 meters in some areas near Bakhmut on Sunday. In addition, they continue to hold the southwestern part of the city.