Russian troops, aided by mercenary fighters from the Wagner Group, are trying to cut Ukraine’s supply lines and force them to surrender or withdraw. On Wednesday, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the rogue millionaire who owns the Wagner Group, said his fighters had captured all of the eastern part of Bakhmut. If true, that would mean Russian forces now control nearly half the city in their costly push.
Article source: https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/why-does-russia-bakhmut_uk_6407b6b1e4b0c0a42a724f06