Ukraine-News: ++ Russian troops are apparently making progress in the contested Bakhmut ++

Status: 09:09 am | Reading time: 4 minutes

RAccording to British estimates, US forces have penetrated the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, which has been fought over for months. “The Russian infantry is now likely to have gained a foothold in the city’s eastern industrial areas and at times has advanced into the city’s residential areas,” the Defense Ministry in London said on Wednesday, citing intelligence findings. “Street fighting continues.” The Russian troops are regular military as well as mercenaries from the Wagner group.

There has been fighting over Bakhmut in the Donetsk region since June. So far, the front line ran east of the city. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to Bakhmut on Tuesday and distributed medals and gifts to soldiers.

Since the fighting for the cities of Lysychansk and Sievjerodonetsk in July, there have been few battles in urban centers, according to London sources. Such battles required well-trained infantry. “This type of combat is unlikely to favor poorly trained Wagner fighters and the Russian Army’s mobilized reservists,” the ministry said.

The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.

All developments in the live ticker:

08:24 – The situation in Ukraine

7:00 a.m. – Selenskyj surprisingly flies to Washington

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj is expected in the US capital Washington this Wednesday for his first trip abroad since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression. The US government confirmed reports early Wednesday morning (local time). In Washington, Selenskyj will be received by US President Joe Biden in the White House, among others, and will address the US Congress. According to the information, Biden also wants to announce during the meeting with his Ukrainian colleague that the United States will deliver the Patriot air defense system to Ukraine.

5:00 a.m. – City Day: Situation with Ukrainian refugees cannot be calculated

The cities in Baden-Württemberg are preparing for the influx of more refugees from the Ukraine, but according to the city council, the situation is unpredictable. “In many cities, communities and districts, people are currently in the process of creating additional accommodation capacities,” said Executive Board Member Ralf Bross. Hotels would be rented in cities that did not have their own premises. Youth hostels would also be an option for accommodation.

10:41 p.m. – Russia’s oldest civil rights organization faces closure

The Russian Ministry of Justice has applied to the court for the closure of the civil rights organization Moscow Helsinki Group (MHG), which was founded in Soviet times. As justification, the ministry pointed out that the MHG had operated illegally outside the Moscow region, the group said. The Moscow Helsinki Group is registered as a regional non-governmental organization (NGO). Because members of the NGO were present at processes in other regions, it is now to be dissolved. Eva Merkacheva, a member of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Human Rights Council, spoke of a purely “formal” pretext for the closure.

The Moscow Helsinki Group was formed in 1976 shortly after the Conference on Security and Cooperation (CSCE) when the Soviet delegation signed the Helsinki Final Act. In Soviet times, however, the group was persecuted. Official pressure only eased later.

The prominent human rights activist Lyudmila Alexeyeva was the chair of the NGO until her death in 2018. In recent years, however, as in the case of other civil rights associations, the pressure on this oldest human rights organization in Russia has increased again

9:34 PM – Zelenskyy: Will liberate all parts of Ukraine

After his visit to the front-line town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reaffirmed his willingness to fully liberate all Russian-occupied territories. “We will do everything possible and impossible, expected and unexpected, so that our heroes have everything they need to win,” Zelenskyy said in his daily video address. The troops should achieve what “all Ukrainians expect”.

Selenskyj listed the areas to be liberated. “This is our Luhansk region, this is our southern Ukraine, this is our Crimea,” he said. “Ukraine will not leave anything of its own to the enemy.” Russia has annexed the areas in violation of international law.

During his visit to the east of the country, he saw many badly damaged and destroyed villages on the way to the “Fortress Bakhmut”, which had only recently been liberated by Ukrainian troops. “Look at Russia’s offensive, what it leaves when it plants its flag somewhere,” Zelenskyy said. “Scorched earth, shattered lives… Pain, ruins and graves – this is the so-called Russian Peace.

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