The head of the presidential office in Kiev, Andrey Yermak, published a photo with Ukrainian soldiers. It was said to have been taken in Klishchiivka in the east of the country. Russian troops occupied the city for a long time. “Ukraine always has its back,” Yermak declared on his Telegram channel.
The photo shows military men holding Ukrainian flags in front of a destroyed church. Particularly striking is the church evidence that the photograph was taken in Klishchivka. The town is located south of the crisis-hit city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. It is of great strategic importance for the so-called Bakhmut Nutcracker. There has been heavy fighting around the village in recent weeks.
Ukrainian forces recorded the most successes around Bakhmut. Given the prolonged fighting until May, especially with Wagner’s mercenaries, it was here that the Russian army had the least time to strengthen its defensive lines.
A few hours after Yermak posted the photo, the Ukrainian army also officially announced that it had recaptured the city. “I can confirm that this was achieved thanks to the efforts of the 80th Air Assault Brigade, the 5th Assault Brigade and the Joint National Police Brigade ‘Lyut’ (‘Anger’),” the newspaper “Ukrainskaya Pravda” quoted an army spokesman as saying. Went.” Group East As stated, Ilya Yevlash.
Klitschivka was captured by the Russians in January 2023. According to their own statements, Kiev forces have recently recaptured the neighboring town of Andreevka. However, there is probably not much left at that location as a result of heavy fighting. The 72nd Russian Brigade was said to have been destroyed in the fighting south of Bakhmut.
The alleged capture of Klichivka could have extremely damaging consequences for the Russian occupiers in Bakhmut. Now they could be cracked down on from the south and the north.
