Azov Regiment founder Andriy Biletsky says Ukrainian forces defeated Russian brigade in Bakhmut

Andriy Biletsky, the founder of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment and the far-right National Corps party, said Wednesday that Ukrainian forces have eliminated Russia’s 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade in Bakhmut.

“The brigade’s 6th and 8th companies were in fact completely destroyed,” Biletsky said in a video posted to Telegram. He did not provide evidence for his statements. He also said the Wagner Group’s forces in the area suffered significant losses.

According to Biletsky, Ukraine carried out an offensive over a section of the front three kilometers (1.86 miles) wide and 600 meters (0.37 miles) deep, successfully liberating the territory from Russian forces.

Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade posted a video purportedly showing combat with Russia’s 72nd Brigade. The clip shows several soldiers running from armored vehicles. The Ukrainian unit reported that it took five prisoners.

On Tuesday, Wagner Group founder Evgeny Prigozhin said Russia’s 72nd Brigade abandoned a strategic bridgehead in Bakhmut on May 9. “All of them fled, exposing a section of the front that was nearly two kilometers (1.25 miles) long and 500 meters (0.31 miles) deep. Luckily, we [Wagner forces] managed to seal it,” he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on Prigozhin’s or Biletsky’s statements.