Moscow sees control of Pakhmut as 'essential' for further attacks

Russia: Chinese talk of "invisible hand" in Ukraine is a joke

Russian 90-T battle tank firing in the Donetsk region. EPA.

The Kremlin said yesterday that the United States is driving the conflict in Ukraine, adding that China's foreign minister was joking when he held an "invisible hand" responsible for developments there, while Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stressed that control of the industrial city of Pakhmot in eastern Ukraine is essential for launching more Russian attacks in the Donetsk region.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "Here we probably disagree with our Chinese comrades. This, of course, is a joke. You know what a joke is? It's not an invisible hand, it's the hand of the United States of America, it's Washington's hand."

"Washington does not want this war to end, and is doing everything it can to continue this war. This is a visible (not hidden) hand."

Moscow has repeatedly said that the United States and its allies are exploiting Ukraine to wage war against it, but Kiev and the West reject this and say Ukraine is fighting for survival in the face of Russia's war on Ukraine. Referring to a Chinese ceasefire initiative, Peskov said Moscow was in constant contact with Beijing and that it was normal for a "strong" country like China to have a say in global crises. Sergei Shoigu, during a televised meeting of military officials yesterday, stressed that the capture of the city of Bachmot is essential for further Russian attacks in Donetsk.

"This city is an important defense center for Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region. Controlling them will allow additional attacks deep inside the defensive lines of the Ukrainian Armed Forces."

Since last summer, Russian forces have been waging a fierce offensive that has destroyed large parts of the city of Bakhmut in order to capture it, but have not yet been able to take control.

In recent weeks, the Russians have made a slight advance in the city and appear to be in control of its northern, southern, and eastern entrances, threatening to encircle it entirely.

The Wagner Armed Group forces are leading the offensive but are recording heavy losses, according to its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin.

The latter is in open conflict with the Russian military leadership, which he regularly accuses of not providing enough ammunition to his personnel fighting on the front in Bakhmut. On the Ukrainian side, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced in his daily video message on Monday evening that he had informed the Chief of Staff that reinforcements should be sent to the troops defending Bakhmaut, reiterating that "no part of Ukraine will be ceded" to Russia.

The city of Pakhmut, which had a population of 70,<> before the war, has become a symbol of the fight between Russians and Ukrainians for control of the Donbas industrial region, due to the length of the battle and heavy losses suffered by both sides.

Ukraine is talking about preparing a counteroffensive and is awaiting Western arms shipments soon.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that the army killed 154,830 Russian soldiers in Ukraine between February 24, 2022 and March 7, 2023, including 1060,<> soldiers during Monday alone, the Ukrainian National News Agency (Ukrinform) reported yesterday.

The statement, published by the General Staff on its Facebook page, said that the Russian forces suffered more than 3000,6000 tanks, 1000,<> armored combat vehicles, hundreds of artillery systems, multiple missile launch systems, air defense systems, fighter aircraft, helicopters and motorized vehicles, in addition to many warships, drones and special equipment units, and managed to shoot down about <>,<> Russian cruise missiles.

Yesterday, the Ukrainian Air Force launched 15 strikes targeting Russian sites, in addition to another air strike that destroyed an anti-aircraft missile system at its site.