Ukraine rejects claims Russia has captured Bakhmut

The battle for the mining city and logistics hub of Bakhmut was one of the bloodiest of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with heavy casualties on both sides and the city largely destroyed by bombing.

Ukraine, North Korea, Russia, Has Captured Bakhmut, Image 1 — A Russian tank in Bakhmut. Photo: Reuters

Yevgeny Prigozhin, commander of the Wagner mercenaries leading the siege, said on Sunday that his troops had raised the Russian flag over the administrative building in the city center, although Ukrainian soldiers still held some positions in the west.

"It can be said that Bakhmut has been taken," Mr Prigozhin said. However, the Ukrainian military said fierce fighting was still taking place around the city council building, as well as in other nearby towns.

"Bakhmut is Ukrainian and Russia has not captured anything," said Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for the military command in eastern Ukraine.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a statement that a total of 45 Russian attacks had been repelled in the past 24 hours, with the focus on Bakhmut along with the cities of Avdiivka and Maryinka further south.

John Kirby, spokesman for the US National Security Council, told reporters in Washington that Ukraine is still fighting hard for Bakhmut.

Located on the edge of the Russian-controlled part of Donetsk province, Bakhmut had a population of 70,000 before the conflict.

Hoang Nam (according to Reuters)

Source