JAKARTA - Russia's Defense Ministry on Thursday denied reports that Ukrainian troops had begun counterattacks and breakthroughs along the front line, saying the military situation was still under control.
Moscow reacted after Russian military bloggers, writing on the messaging app Telegram, reported what they said were Ukrainian advances north and south of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, with some assessing the long-awaited counteroffensive by pro-Kyiv forces. has begun.
"The statements spread by several Telegram channels regarding the 'defence breakthrough' occurring in various areas along the lines of military contact do not correspond to reality," the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a Telegram posting, reported by Reuters, May 12.
"The overall situation in the special military operations area is under control," the ministry said in a statement, using the Kremlin's description of the war in Ukraine.
Yesterday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia's Wagner Group mercenaries who led the battle for Bakhmut, said the Ukrainian operation was "unfortunately, partially successful". He called President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that the counteroffensive had not started a "hoax".
The fact that the Russian ministry felt obligated to issue the statement reflects what Moscow acknowledged was an "extremely difficult" military operation.
Separately, Ukraine said it had been pushing back Russian troops over the past few days near Bakhmut.
Nevertheless, a massive counteroffensive involving tens of thousands of troops and hundreds of Western tanks is still being prepared.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier said his side's planned counteroffensive had not yet been carried out.
"We still need a little more time," President Zelensky said in an interview with European television stations.
Reuters was unable to verify the reports and it was not clear whether Ukrainian troops would attack in full force, only carrying out armed reconnaissance attacks.
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Separately, Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musiyenko said Kyiv supporters understand a counteroffensive "may not result in the complete expulsion of Russian forces and the definitive defeat of Russia in all of the occupied territory."
"We must be prepared for a war that will continue into next year - or it may end this year," Musiyenko told Radio NV Ukraine.
"It all depends on how the battle develops. We cannot guarantee how the counterattack will develop," he said.
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