The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, on Saturday, claimed full control of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, the focus of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war.
Reuters could not independently confirm the claim. Prigozhin made it in a video in which he appeared in combat fatigues in front of a line of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners.
Today, at 12 noon, Bakhmut was completely taken.”
Prigozhin said.
He said that his forces would withdraw from Bakhmut on May 25 for rest and retraining. We completely took the whole city, from house to house, he said.
Distant explosions could be heard in the background as Prigozhin spoke during the video.
But later Ukraine’s military denied on Saturday that Russia’s Wagner private military unit had taken full control of the ruined eastern city of Bakhmut and said its troops were continuing to fight there.
This is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut, military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi told Reuters after the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group said his forces had taken full control of the city.
