Russia invents 'liberation' of Bahatyr village in Donetsk region: What’s really happening

Bielskyi noted that on Saturday, May 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense boasted about the "capture of the village of Bahatyr" in the Donetsk region.

"For the occupying military leadership, passing wishful thinking off as reality is common. In March, the enemy reported the incorporation of the villages of Kostiantynopil and Andriivka into the so-called DPR (Donetsk People's Republic), and on April 1, they claimed the ‘liberation’ of Rozlyv. It should be noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine still maintain a presence in each of these settlements," the spokesperson pointed out.

He said the battle for Bahatyr began on May 5. At that time, Russian forces attacked the settlement simultaneously from 3–4 directions. For the assaults, the enemy used armored vehicles, cars, buggies, and motorcycles.

"Three times, enemy assault groups planted a Russian flag on the outskirts of the village. But Ukrainian heroes cleared Bahatyr of the occupiers and their tricolor ‘rag’ every time," Bielskyi specified.

After that, the enemy changed tactics — sending in assault troops one by one, mostly at night, dressed in special cloaks to make them harder to detect with thermal imaging drones. They move through forest strips with minimal food and water supplies in an attempt to infiltrate and gain a foothold on the outskirts of the village.

"The fields and roads nearby, as well as the streets within the settlement, are littered with the bodies of these ‘lone strays.’ And the village of Bahatyr remains under the control of the servicemen of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Vuhledar tactical group," the spokesperson emphasized.

Fake news about Rozlyv

Earlier, the Russian authorities fabricated a story about the “liberation” of the village of Rozlyv in the Donetsk region.

Following that announcement by the Russian Ministry of Defense, assaults on the village continued for another two weeks.