MOSCOW: Moscow said on Thursday that Russian forces were “blocking” Ukrainian forces from getting in or out of the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut.
However, the head of mercenary group Wagner, which has spearheaded much of the fighting for the city, said it was “too early” to say Bakhmut was surrounded.
Kyiv has not yet commented on the claims regarding the longest and bloodiest battle since the start of Moscow’s Ukraine offensive.
“Airborne troops are providing support to advancing assault troops, blocking the transfer of Ukrainian army reserves to the city and the possibility of retreat for enemy units,” the Russian defense ministry said in a statement.
The statement said “Wagner assault units were continuing high-intensity combat operations to oust the enemy from the central quarters” of the city in eastern Ukraine.
The Wagner mercenary group says it has spearheaded the Russian attack on Bakhmut.
In a statement, Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said however it was “too early” to say Russia has Bakhmut surrounded.
Recent days appear to have pointed toward gains in Bakhmut for Moscow, with several Russian correspondents publishing images from inside the city.
The Russian-installed head of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, also made a trip to Bakhmut this week.
Bakhmut had a population of 70,000 people before Moscow launched its offensive.
Both Russia and Ukraine are believed to have suffered huge losses in the battle, despite analysts saying the city has little strategic value.
Russia says Ukraine forces cut off inside Bakhmut
https://arab.news/2yakg
Russia says Ukraine forces cut off inside Bakhmut
- The head of mercenary group Wagner said it was "too early" to say Bakhmut was surrounded
- Recent days appear to have pointed towards gains in Bakhmut for Moscow
Philippines, US, Japanese planes drill over Bashi Channel
- Aircraft from the three nations patrolled over the Philippines’ northernmost Batanes islands in drills aimed at showcasing their “ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments,” the Philippine military said in a statement
MANILA: The Philippine, US and Japanese militaries conducted joint exercises this week over the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said Friday.
Aircraft from the three nations patrolled over the Philippines’ northernmost Batanes islands in drills aimed at showcasing their “ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments,” the Philippine military said in a statement.
It marks the first time that so-called Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities involving the countries have expanded beyond the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have engaged in repeated clashes over disputed territory.
Little more than 100 km separates the Philippines and self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.
“Air operations were conducted within airspace over Philippine territory and its territorial sea, north of Luzon,” the Philippine military said in a statement, adding naval vessels had stayed west of the Batanes island chain.
Armed forces public affairs chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad said it was the “first time” MMCA operations had been conducted in the “said operational box.”
The military’s statement said that box extended “up to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly Mavulis Island,” which hosts small Philippine navy and marine detachments.
China’s military reacted angrily to the drills on Friday.
“The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organise the so-called joint patrols, disrupting peace and stability in the region,” said Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the PLA’s Southern Theater Command.
He added that China had conducted a “routine patrol” of the South China Sea from Feb. 23 to 26.
In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent relations with Beijing into a tailspin by suggesting that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.
Beijing imposed export restrictions and warned its citizens against visiting Japan, while accusing Tokyo of attempting to “revive militarism.”
Japan’s defense minister upped the ante by saying on Tuesday that Tokyo planned to deploy surface-to-air missiles on one of its remote western islands located near Taiwan by early 2031.
In August, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned that the Philippines would be dragged “kicking and screaming” into any war over Taiwan.
“I hope it doesn’t happen ... But if it does, we have to plan for it already,” he said, citing the large numbers of Filipinos working in Taiwan.
The Philippine-US-Japanese exercise took place over six days and concluded on Thursday. It included a live-fire gunnery exercise conducted by the guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna.
