Bakhmut, the last battles in the hell of “Ukrainian Verdun”.

“Menthol” never smoked a mint cigarette in his life and forgot why he got this nom de guerre one day. Commander 214^e Special OpFor Battalion, the last Ukrainian unit to leave the city of Bakhmut, Lt. Col. Anton Lavrynuk prepares a cigarette under a chain grill in a village near Kramatorsk, his headquarters.

“Menthol” tells the story of the battle, which was hell until the end, during the battle in the last urban square defended by his men – seven nine-story buildings – in the west of the city. “The tank and artillery fire was very intense. The enemy began to surround our men from three sides. We had to retreat. We couldn’t even take all our dead.” he says. In the end, it was only in seven buildings “two or three positions” in floors that was necessary “Rope Reach” The stairs were so destroyed by the Russian fire.

Moscow announced the takeover of Bakhmut on May 20. Twelve days later, Kiev still refuses to officially recognize the fall of the city. The Ukrainian government, without providing operational details, claims that fighting is ongoing for three reasons: the presence of special forces that have penetrated into the city sector, the presence of artillerymen on the heights to the west and the ongoing counterattack in the north. and the southern flanks.

“Bakhmut’s battle is not over. He entered a new phase, said on Wednesday, May 31, the Deputy Minister of Defense, Hana Maliar, contacted by phone in Kyiv. Our forces are flanking the city and our artillery is breaking the rotation between Wagner’s units and the Russian army. We are proactive. The situation may change at any time. »

“Treatment of the Wounded and Sick”

At the front headquarters of General Alexander Sirsky, the army commander in charge of operations in the Bakhmut region, Colonel Serhiy Cherevat, spokesman for the Eastern Regional Military Command, also reached by phone on May 31, confirms that there are both “Battles on the Edge of the City and Artillery Duels”. “We still control several buildings in the southwest of the city and our special forces are still conducting operations. she said. So we cannot say that the Russians have full control over Bakhmut. »

“Menthol” is not included in those reflections where political considerations and the military situation are mixed. He simply confirms wearily that his men have left Bakhmut “May 23”Wagner’s head, Yevgeny Prigogine, was immediately congratulated by Russian President Vladimir Putin that evening, three days after the victory was announced.