Russian forces strike Ukrainian troops trying to reinforce Bakhmut (Artyomovsk)

Russia’s defense ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had struck Ukrainian army reserves trying to break through to the embattled city of Bakhmut, the Interfax news agency reported.

Russia also said Wagner mercenary forces had captured three more blocks in their attempt to seize control of the city in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported.

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 Ukraine has lost more than 245 military on the Donetsk direction in the past 24 hours, and Russia's private military company Wagner Group's assault detachments gained control over three city districts of Bakhmut, also known as Artyomovsk, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

"In the Donetsk direction... more than 245 Ukrainian soldiers, one tank, two armored combat vehicles, three pickup trucks, eight vehicles, a Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, and three Grad MLRS (multiple launch rocket system) combat vehicles were destroyed in the past 24 hours," the ministry said in a statement.

 Kiev continues its attempts to relocate reserve forces to Artyomovsk (Bakhmut), but most of them get eliminated before they even reach the city, says Yan Gagin, Advisor to Acting DPR Head Denis Pushilin.