RIGHT SPEAK: Defense of Bakhmut is a success; RUssian forces attempt to strengthen flanks on outskirts of Bakhmut; RU claims 'defeating' Belgorod incursion without providing any footage; RU Volunteer Corps denies military equipment damaged, combatants killed during Belgorod incursion, LIVE UPDATES and MORE

Photo:Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty/Serhii Nuzhnenko via REUTERS

Defense of Bakhmut is a success, Danilov says:

The grinding, 10-month-long battle for Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, remains a successful defensive operation, Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, told CNN on May 23.

During the operation, Russia has suffered significant losses in personnel and equipment, according to Danilov. Furthermore, he claimed that a part of the city remains under Ukraine’s control, disputing Moscow’s assertion that Bakhmut is now entirely in Russian hands.

Danilov stated that the decision to continue defending Bakhmut was made at the strategic level and had been constantly reevaluated. He emphasized that there had been a large number of Russian military personnel, special forces, airborne troops, and other military units, who had been eliminated in Bakhmut. Ukrainian defenders also destroyed a significant amount of enemy equipment, and Russia has expended a significant amount of ammunition.

"This is our strategic defensive operation, which is proceeding successfully for us because we have held this territory for 10 months, where we have been destroying them every day; what can they (the Russians) boast of?" Danilov added.

On May 20, the leader of Russia’s Wagner Group PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed that his mercenaries had fully captured Bakhmut. The Ukrainian Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense denied this claim and said that fighting was still ongoing in the city. --->READ MORE HERE

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Defense Ministry: Russian forces attempt to strengthen flanks on outskirts of Bakhmut:

Russian forces are attempting to strengthen their positions on the flanks of Bakhmut's suburbs, relying on constant shelling to achieve this goal, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported on May 24.

According to Maliar, the overall number of Russian assaults has decreased as units are being replaced.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian troops are making "gradual progress," Maliar said. Ukrainian troops still control a portion of the southwestern area of the city.

On May 23, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported that Russian forces unsuccessfully attempted to advance on the village of Khromove near Bakhmut.

After a 10-month-long campaign to capture Bakhmut, Wagner mercenary group founder Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed complete control of the city on May 21.

The Kyiv Independent reported on May 22 that Bakhmut had effectively been occupied by Russian troops. While it has yet to be confirmed by the Ukrainian government, it is evident based on both official statements and those made by soldiers on the ground to the Kyiv Independent. --->READ MORE HERE