Encirclement of Bachmut possible
Moscow confirms capture of key village of Blahodatne
1/31/2023 3:18 p.m
The village of Blahodatne is small with few residents, but is important to Russia’s plan to encircle Bakhmut. Moscow is now reporting the capture, after the Wagner group had previously reported success. In addition, Russia claims a heavy armored train is traveling in the region.
During the war in Ukraine, Russian troops say they now have complete control of the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense in Moscow.
The location is north of the currently highly contested city of Bachmut, in the immediate vicinity of the recently conquered Soledar. The Russian army is trying to bypass Bakhmut from the north and south in order to force the Ukrainian army to withdraw from the small town or to encircle the town. Both sides are said to have suffered massive losses in the bloody battles. However, the main supply route to the north-west is still under Ukrainian control.
The head of the Russian private army Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, had previously claimed combat success for his paramilitary units. The capture of the Ukrainian side was not confirmed. At the weekend it was said in Kyiv that the attacks had been repelled. The information cannot be verified independently. At the weekend, however, videos appeared on social media that were supposed to show fighters from the Wagner mercenary group in front of the town sign.
Ukraine is urgently demanding heavy weapons from the West to stop the advance of Russian troops and liberate occupied towns. The Russian Ministry of Defense also informed about the use of an armored train in the war zone. The crew on the train, named after the Volga River, is said to be used for technical reconnaissance and mine clearance, as well as destroying military targets in the air and on the ground. “This massive armament complex allows soldiers to work even in the most difficult conditions,” the ministry said in a statement. “This is a real armored train, armed to the teeth.” The soldiers there had simple firearms, but also large-calibre equipment.