Russian forces claimed to have taken the village of Bakhmuts’ke in the Donetsk region on Monday, according to a statement published by the headquarters of the Territorial Defense of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on its Telegram channel.
“As of January 9, 2023, Bakhmuts’ke village in the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic was liberated by the Russian Armed Forces,” the statement claimed.
The village of Bakhmuts’ke is located near Soledar and Bakhmut — the area which has been the site of intense fighting for months.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called Bakhmut and Soledar “one of the bloodiest places on the frontline.”
CNN has not been able to independently confirm DPR’s claims.
