WAR IN UKRAINE: Russia Says Its Artillery Continues To Support Wagner Mercenaries In Bakhmut

Moscow has said that its artillery continues to support Wagner mercenaries in the embattled eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which the Russians have been trying to take for months.

The images appear to show Russian soldiers firing shells from a piece of artillery camouflaged with branches, with the images then cutting to an explosion in an urban area.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 19th April, along with a statement claiming: “‘We bring victory closer with every shot.’

The Russian MoD added: “Crews of 152-mm Msta-B towed howitzers of the Airborne Troops continue to support the Wagner assault detachments in the Artyomovsk [Bakhmut] direction.

Russian airborne troops of “Msta-B” fire at the Ukrainian military positions in Bakhmut in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by Russian MoD on Wednesday, Apr. 19, 2023. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

“With accurate fire from a cannon, the paratroopers defeated the enemy group discovered by reconnaissance, which did not allow our assault units to advance. Ukrainian militants settled down in one of the houses in a residential high-rise building.

“The Russian gunners hit the target with the first volley without shooting. With subsequent shots, the battery destroyed enemy equipment.

“The work of gunners is monitored in real time by operators of complexes with unmanned aerial vehicles. They transmit data on the results of firing to the firing position.

“Artillery units of the Airborne Forces continue to carry out combat missions of a special military operation, suppressing the enemy’s firepower, destroying its defences, destroying weapons and military equipment.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 420th day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 19th April 2023, Russia had lost about 183,750 personnel, 3,665 tanks, 7,110 armoured combat vehicles, 2,819 artillery units, 538 multiple launch rocket systems, 285 air defence systems, 308 warplanes, 293 helicopters, 2,376 drones, 911 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,692 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 330 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky visited troops in Avdiivka, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, on Tuesday, according to his office.

Zelensky’s office said that he spoke with commanders about the situation on the battlefield and gave awards to soldiers.

The Kremlin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited military headquarters in Russian-occupied southern Ukraine.

It quoted Putin as saying to military officials on the ground: “I do not want to distract you from your direct duties related to command and control.”

Putin reportedly added: “It is important for me to hear your opinion on how the situation is developing, to listen to you, to exchange information. I would ask you to start your report with the situation.”

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that the video was filmed on Monday.

But Independent Russian media and international outlets have noted that Putin referred to the upcoming Orthodox Church celebration of Easter, indicating that the video may actually have been filmed last week.

A Moscow court has rejected an appeal by US reporter Evan Gershkovich to be free from pre-trial detention.

This means that Gershkovich, who denies charges of espionage, will remain in a former KGB prison until at least 29th May.

The G7 has criticised Russia’s threats to put nuclear weapons in Belarus and has vowed to intensify sanctions against Moscow.

Robert Telus, the Polish Minister of Agriculture, has said that Poland has reached an agreement on restarting imports of Ukrainian grain as of Friday.

The Ukrainian military has said Russian forces are stepping up their use of airstrikes and heavy artillery in Bakhmut, adding that Moscow’s forces are suffering significant losses in the battle.

The manufacturer of Sweden’s Absolut Vodka, Pernod Ricard, has said that it is stopping all exports to Russia after calls to boycott the brand went viral on social media in Sweden following the company’s decision to resume exports earlier this month.

The brand had initially ceased exports to Russia in March 2022.

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