KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The top of the Russian non-public military Wagner claimed Saturday that his forces have taken management of town of Bakhmut after the longest and most grinding battle of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, however Ukrainian protection officers denied it.
In a video posted on Telegram, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned town got here underneath full Russian management at about noon Saturday. He spoke flanked by about half a dozen fighters, with ruined buildings within the background and explosions heard within the distance.
Nevertheless, after the video appeared, Ukrainian deputy protection minister Hanna Maliar mentioned heavy preventing was persevering with.
“The state of affairs is vital,” she mentioned. “As of now, our defenders, management sure industrial and infrastructure amenities on this space.”
Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine’s jap command, instructed The Related Press that Prigozhin’s declare “isn’t true. Our models are preventing in Bakhmut.”
Combating has raged round Bakhmut for greater than 200 days.