Thousands of Russian troops could be snared in the “mousetrap” Ukrainian city of Bakhmut after claiming they have overrun it after nine months of fighting.
Kyiv sources claim more than 100,000 soldiers have been killed battling for Bakhmut and that Ukraine ’s soldiers will encircle them in the coming weeks.
One Kyiv MP said: “They will be caught in a mousetrap,” as Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said some of his troops were still holding out in Bakhmut.
Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said Ukrainian troops hold some of Bakhmut’s outskirts while fighting continues for the strategic heights north and south.
She said: “Huge losses have been inflicted on the enemy. We have gained time for certain actions, which will be revealed later.”
Ukraine says their fighters played a key role in their strategy of exhausting Russian forces.
Col.-Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, who commands Ukraine’s ground forces, said:
“Despite the fact that we now control a small part of Bakhmut, the importance of its defense does not lose its relevance.
“This gives us the opportunity to enter the city in case of a change in the situation. And it will definitely happen.”
Russia ’s Defence Ministry said fighters of the Wagner private military contractor, backed by Russian troops, had seized the city.
But Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the city was not being fully occupied.
About 34 miles north of the Russian-held regional capital of Donetsk, now ruined Bakhmut was an important industrial centre.
Ukrainian forces are making significant advances near strategic roads through surrounding countryside, chipping away at Russia’s flanks with the aim of encircling Wagner fighters.
Ukrainian Col. Yevhen Mezhevikin, commander of a specialised group fighting in Bakhmut, said:
“The main idea is to exhaust them, then to attack.”
Fighting in Ukraine has raged since February 24 last year, when Russian launched its full-scale invasion.
But Moscow has suffered catastrophic casualties, forcing President Vladimir Putin to allow the mercenary Wagner Group to enlist prisoners to fight.
It is believed the Kremlin is hoping the Russian public will care less about ex-lags being killed than conscripted civilians.
