The situation on the front: Russia’s Wagner chief calls Ukraine’s successes with Bashmut a “disgrace”

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that Kiev had launched a “major” offensive in the southern Donetsk region, using tanks and mechanized units.

Ukrainian forces say they have no information about a “large-scale offensive” in the Donetsk region. On Sunday, Kiev called for “silence” over any plans to take back regions Russia captured in the 15-month-long invasion.

ISW: Ukraine’s Tactical Gains

ISW says: Ukrainian forces launched localized ground offensives and achieved limited tactical gains in the western Donetsk region and the eastern Zaporizhia region on 4 June.

Geolocated footage released in Sundaw shows that Ukrainian mechanized forces made limited advances northeast of Rivnopil.

Russian Milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces attacked in this direction and captured Novodarevka and Neskochye – settlements on the borders of Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions. Some Russian bloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces broke through the first line of Russian defenses and advanced from 500 meters to three kilometers in that area.

An official appointed by Russia in the occupied parts of Zaporizhia region told Russian state media that Ukrainian forces are trying to break through the line of defense here to reach the coast of the Sea of ​​Azov.

Head of Wagner recognizes the Ukrainian successes

Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed on 4 June that Ukrainian forces may have recaptured positions southwest of Bakhmut, supporting repeated Ukrainian reports that Ukrainian forces were holding positions on the southwestern outskirts of the city.

On Monday, Prigozhin – once dubbed “Putin’s cook” – said Ukrainian forces had recaptured part of the village of Berkhivka north of Bakhmut, calling it a “disgrace”.

Ukrainian officials have consistently reported that Ukrainian forces have occupied positions on the outskirts of Bakhmut since May 20, when Prigozhin claimed that Wagner’s forces had captured the entire city.