The Russian mercenary company Wagner says fighters have captured another village near the city of Bakhmut where heavy fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues.
Wagner said on his official Telegram channel that “attacking teams have liberated the village of Blahodatne and have taken full control of the settlement adjacent to the city.”
Blakhodatne is a small village about 6 kilometers (4 miles) north of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Wagner posted a photo and video of the fighter at the entrance to the village. By claiming the town, he said he could put more pressure on Ukrainian forces in the northeastern outskirts of Bakhmut, including the small communities of Krasna Hora and Paraskovyvka.
Please note the following: CNN was unable to independently verify Wagner’s claims and has reached out to the Ukrainian military for comment.Reuters report on sunday Ukraine claimed to have repulsed an attack on the village the day before.
Moscow civilian forces also led the capture of Soledar, a few miles northeast of Bakhmut. The Ukrainian military admitted to withdrawing from the territory earlier this week after initially denying claims that Wagner controlled the town.
Details about Wagner’s attack: The Russian goal appears to be to lay siege to Bakhmut rather than to fight in the city itself, which has endured months of brutal fighting.
Wagner fighters were also reported to have advanced south of the city last week. The last remaining route to the Ukrainian-controlled city came under heavy Russian attack last week, according to Ukrainian officials and commanders.
Wagner’s statement acknowledged that it would be more difficult to attack Kyiv forces on high ground west of Bakhmut.
In recent days, CNN teams in the region have observed heavy artillery fire north of Bahmut.