Ukrainian soldiers fight in Bakhmut (Photo: Reuters).
Spokesman Alexey Selivanov told TASS news agency on December 4 that units of the Russian volunteer expeditionary strike corps had blocked the last highway used to reinforce Ukrainian forces near the eastern cities of Bakhmut and Soledar.
"Four groups of the army corps have advanced to the Bakhmut - Chasov Yar road north of Bakhmut. Units of the Northern and Vostok brigades, the Yenisei Cossack unit and the Nevsky unit have cut off the last supply route leading to the Ukrainian forces in Bakhmut - Soledar," Selivanov said.
He added that Ukrainian soldiers were using the Volga radio frequency to declare their readiness to lay down their arms. However, Ukrainian soldiers, minefields and drones were hindering the surrender attempt. Fearing fire, the spokesman said, Ukrainian soldiers waited until nightfall to surrender to the Russians.
Control of the road opened a gateway to Kramatorsk, Mr Selivanov said.
In September, Tass news agency quoted an anonymous source as saying that more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers "chose life and used the 149,200 "Volga" frequency to surrender."
The source confirmed that the "Volga" frequency is broadcasting in all directions of the front line in the area of Russia's military operation in Ukraine.
Frequency 149,200 is accessible by all digital radio stations and was set up by the Russian side for Ukrainian soldiers to announce their intention to surrender. The Russian military can then safely locate and detain those who surrender.
The city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine (Photo: US Department of Defense).
According to the daily report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the operational situation on the eastern front of Ukraine remains fierce.
In recent times, the Russian army has conducted many campaigns with the aim of controlling the Chasov Yar area west of Bakhmut. In addition to its position as a strategic high point, the route connecting Chasov Yar with Bakhmut is one of the few remaining Ukrainian supply routes in the "fire pit" of Bakhmut.
According to pro-Russian officials in Donetsk, cutting off this vital route would make the defense forces face extremely difficult combat conditions due to lack of ammunition, weapons, food and medicine. In addition, this route would also help the Russian army tighten the siege on Bakhmut, thereby accelerating the campaign to gain control of the fortress in eastern Ukraine.
A Ukrainian military spokesman, Volodymyr Fitio, told state television on December 4 that Kiev forces had repelled 21 Russian attacks in areas around Bakhmut. Bakhmut has been devastated by months of fighting and has been under Russian control since mid-May, but Ukrainian troops have retaken nearby villages.
The head of Ukraine's defense intelligence agency, Kyrylo Budanov, said in September that Kiev was blocking the advance of Russian reserves in Bakhmut to prevent Moscow from sending troops to other axes on the battlefield.
Ukraine has announced it will remove a 15,000-strong force that Russia has set up as reinforcements to stop Kiev's counter-offensive in Bakhmut.
Ukraine began its counter-offensive in June after receiving additional weapons and training from the West. However, the speed of Ukraine's counter-offensive has been slower than expected due to Russia's solid, multi-layered defense system.
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