Ukraine controls strategic peak, Russia admits difficulties in Bakhmut.

The Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine revealed that the Russian army is facing heavy losses at the Bakhmut front.

In a statement released on his personal Telegram page on June 5, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar affirmed that Russia is using "blinding fire" to distract public opinion about heavy losses. That the country's army is facing at Bakhmut.

"Why did the Russians actively spread information about our counter-attack plan? Because they need to distract the public from the defeats at the Bakhmut front," stressed Ms. Maliar.

According to Deputy Minister Maliar, the country's army is conducting effective combat operations, gaining certain advantages on the Bakhmut front.

"Our combat plan includes counter-attacks. Therefore, the Ukrainian army is still actively conducting raids on some fronts. In particular, the Bakhmut front is still the center of the conflict. We are achieving successes, occupying strategic points, and pushing the enemy into a defensive position," added Ukraine's deputy defense minister.

On the same day, Denis Pushilin, the pro-Russian leader in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), admitted that the combat situation in this region is still challenging.

"At the flanks of attack: The situation is under control, although it is complicated. The enemy is constantly shelling this area," Mr. Pushilin confirmed.

The pro-Russian leader in the DPR said the Ukrainian army's efforts to retake Bakhmut were continuing. However, the Russian military is deploying additional forces to strengthen the defense line in this city, replacing members of the private military company Wagner.

"We have arranged to send more forces to the newly liberated areas, despite the difficulties of artillery and drone raids of the enemy," Pushilin added. It was determined that the Russian army had begun an operation to clear mines and rebuild the city.

On May 20, Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia's private Wagner military company, confirmed that the forces had taken control of the entire city of Bakhmut after months of intense fighting.

According to Prigozhin, the Wagner military company members will withdraw from the Bakhmut front on May 25. Control of this "pan of fire" in eastern Ukraine will be transferred to Russia's Chechen paratroopers and special forces. This transfer emphasizes the importance of the Russian military in ensuring the security of Bakhmut from the hands of private military forces.