The capture of a symbolic city? On Wednesday March 8, the Russian paramilitary group Wagner announced that it had conquered “all the eastern part” of Bakhmout, in eastern Ukraine. The city, populated by 71,000 inhabitants before the war, has become one of the symbols of this war. And this, although its strategic interest is very weak.
Although the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, still displays a strong determination to defend the city, observers are no longer under much illusion. Nato boss Jens Stoltenberg says Bakhmout could fall “in the next few days”. “This does not necessarily reflect any turning point in the war”said the secretary general of the military alliance. “It underlines that we must not underestimate Russia. We must continue to support Ukraine”he hammered.
Penalties. While European justice canceled, on Wednesday, the economic sanctions targeting the mother of Evgueni Prigojine, the latter judged “reasonable” those who target it. “In terms of challenging the sanctions against me and the sanctions against Wagner, I’m not going to contest them and I believe that at this time they are being imposed in a completely reasonable manner.”said the sulphurous businessman and boss of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner.