Archive file: Wagner fighters in Berhovka
On June 5, the head of the Wagner PMCS, Yevgeny Prigozhin commented on the reports that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) entered the village of Berhovka located on the north-western outskirts of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut).
Prigozhin confirmed that fighting is ongoing in the village which was secured by forces of the Russian Defence Ministry in May. the AFU reportedly entered the western outskirts of the settlement. Wagner fighters took control of the village back in February 2023. LINK
Ukrainian forces launched offensive operations on the outskirts of Bakhmut in mid-May, when Russian servicemen replaced Wagner fighters in the region to allow the PMCc to finish the mop up operation in the city. Then, Ukrainian forces attacked Russian positions to the west and south of Bakhmut. They managed to repel Russian forces from the road from Hromovo to Chasov Yar and reached the Berkhovsky water reservoir located to the south of the village.
On May 12, the official representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation took more advantageous positions in order to increase the stability of their defense, in the area of the water reservoir.
However, according to the recent reports confirmed by the head of the Wagner PMC, the Russian military failed to hold control of the western shore of the water reservoir and stepped back, allowing the AFU to enter the strategically important village.
When the chief of the General Staff of the Russian Federation Valery Gerasimov and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu regrouped and stood along the Berhovsky reservoir, they said that it was necessary to protect the settlement, because there are very advantageous positions. So advantageous that everyone just haggled for them, Prigozhin claimed.
“Now part of the settlement of Berkhovka has already been lost, the troops are fleeing. Shame! Shoigu, Gerasimov, I urge you to come to the front, raise the army so that they go forward. Come on, you can! And if you can’t, you will die as heroes,” the press service of the Concord company quotes Prigozhin.
In the case of success, the AFU may pave the way to the northern outskirts of the city of Bakhmut and secure their control of the road to Slavyansk. On June 3, Prigozhin claimed that the AFU reportedly established their observation points in the gardens on the southern outskirts of Bakhmut, shelling Russian forces defending the city. LINK
Another attack of the AFU on the flank of Artyomovsk ended in a bloody failure (18+):
At the same time, the AFU are heavily shelling Russian positions in the area of Kleshcheyevka and Kurdyumovka. Heavy positional battles continue. The AFU reportedly stopped active offensive operations recently but they still maintain the military initiative in the area. The Ukrainian military also continues pulling additional forces to Chasov Yar and Ivanovskoye (Krasnoe).
South of Bakhmut, the Ukrainian military attempts to straighten the front the Pivnichnoye- Kurdyumovka-Kleshcheyevka and take control of the dominant height in the area. In the case of success they could threaten Russian Gorlovka.
So far, the Ukrainian military has only achieved some tactical success on the outskirts of Bakhmut. However, the further advance may threaten Russian defense in the city.
