Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Russia’s Wagner mercenary force, said in a video published on Friday that the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut was “practically surrounded” by his forces and that Kyiv’s forces had only one road left out. Prigozhin’s men have spearheaded the assault in eastern Ukraine for months with Moscow regarding Bakhmut, which it calls by its Soviet-era name of Artyomovsk, as a useful stepping stone to seize bigger cities like Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Prigozhin called on Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy to withdraw his forces from the small city. “Units of the private military company Wagner have practically surrounded Bakhmut. Only one road is left (open to Ukrainian forces) The pincers are getting tighter,” said Prigozhin.
Ukraine on Thursday ordered the evacuation of vulnerable residents from the front-line city of Kupiansk and adjacent northeastern territories, as fears mount Russia will retake the key city and rail hub.
Russia says it will take measures to prevent new border incursions, a day after accusing Ukraine-backed nationalists of killing two people in a cross-border raid.

UKRAINE 🇺🇦 Yevgeny Prigozhin, the HEAD of Russia’s 🇷🇺 Wagner group, has CALLED on #Zelenskyy to ORDER an IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL of his FORCES saying #Bakhmut is SURROUNDED. 🧐 #UkraineWar pic.twitter.com/TVohkuIw5s

— Agent TruthTeller🕵️‍♀️ (@AgentTruthTell3) March 3, 2023

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