Moscow/Kyiv: Officials in Donetsk province claim that Russian forces have encircled the city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donbas region. In the last few days, the Russian army and the Wagner Group have taken control of five important areas near Bakhmut and have disrupted the supplies being provided to the Ukrainian military, an official in Donetsk province said. Ukraine has claimed that even as the Russian forces had encircled Bakhmut, they have also launched drone attacks near the capital Kyiv, which has caused a major loss of life. In the wake of the attacks, Russian President Vladimir Putin has directed the Defence Ministry to restructure military units in Ukraine, western media and analysts have claimed.  

Ukraine and western agencies had claimed that the Russian army would take control of Bakhmut before the completion of one year of the Russian-Ukrainian war. However, President Putin is said to have suggested moving forward in phases in east Ukraine and gaining proper control over the occupied areas. Therefore, the Russian Army intensified the attack and focused on capturing small parts.   

Russia has continued attacks on all fronts in east Ukraine in the last few days. Along with Bakhmut, continuous and intense attacks are ongoing in Kupiansk, Lyman and Vuhledar cities. The Russian army has succeeded in capturing five important parts of Bakhmut city. An official in Donetsk said the Russian troops had taken control of all roads leading to Bakhmut. The official also claimed that the supplies to the Ukrainian army, currently stationed in Bakhmut, had been disrupted. He also indicated that the Russian military, which has encircled Bakhmut, would take full control and soon capture the city. Ukrainian agencies have claimed that a struggle is ongoing for every inch of land in Bakhmut.  

Even as it has encircled Bakhmut, Russia has stepped up its attacks on other fronts in eastern Ukraine. These include Kharkiv, Kupiansk, Lyman, Vuhledar, Avdiivka and Marinka. Russia has also deployed more troops in some parts of Zaporizhzhia province. Reports say Russian President Vladimir Putin has instructed Valery Gerasimov, chief of the general staff, to take control of the entire Donbas region by March. For this, Putin has also issued orders to restructure the Russian troops in the Donbas.  

Meanwhile, Russia carried out drone attacks on Monday in the capital Kyiv and Khmelnytskyi province. Iranian Shahed drones were used to launch the attacks. Ukraine said Russia had used a total of 14 drones. 

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