Wagner's mercenaries fled from Bakhmut, Russian airborne assault units dominate there – Ukraine’s Armed Forces

He made this statement during a telethon broadcast.

The spokesperson emphasized that the Wagner mercenaries "shamefully fled" from the city.

"They shamefully fled from there, and now the main active force there consists of enemy airborne assault units. This clearly indicates the importance of Bakhmut to them and the significance of holding onto it. They couldn't capture it in 10 months and could lose it very quickly - it would be a peak of humiliation," said Cherevatyi.

He revealed that alongside the airborne units, there are still infantry units and other private military companies (PMCs) associated with the Russian Ministry of Defense, as well as newly formed assault platoons "Storm Z," recruited from criminals.

• According to British intelligence, within the framework of a major counteroffensive, Ukraine has intensified its offensive operations around Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.