The leader of Russia's Wagner mercenary group declared on Tuesday that his forces had gained control of over 80% of the beleaguered eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, following some of the most intense and bloody combat seen in the war.
While senior Ukrainian military officials did not directly respond to these claims, they asserted that their forces were maintaining their positions in the face of relentless attacks, keeping Russian forces at bay in the city that once had a population of 70,000.
For months, Wagner fighters have spearheaded Russia's attempts to seize Bakhmut. The relentless trench warfare and continuous artillery fire have resulted in massive casualties on both sides, evoking comparisons to World War One.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner, stated that his forces, which have played a significant role in Russian advancements in the east, were continuing their efforts to encircle Bakhmut.
"In Bakhmut, the larger part, more than 80% is now under our control, including the whole administrative centre, factories, warehouses, the administration of the city," Prigozhin said in a video shared by a Russian military blogger.
Denis Pushilin, the Russian-appointed head of the Donetsk region, one of four areas Moscow declared annexed last September, claimed that Russian forces had cornered Ukrainian defenders in the western regions.
Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's Eastern Military Command, reassured that the situation in Bakhmut was under control, adding that Kyiv would not allow its forces to be surrounded.
Deputy Ukrainian Defense Minister Hanna Malyar admitted that Bakhmut "took the main hit" in the fighting. However, she noted that Russian forces "are generally losing to us in street battles so they are simply destroying all buildings and structures".
As the battle continues, Ukrainian officials are urging allies to provide more and better weapons to help them defeat Russia.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba announced on Twitter that he had received assurances of "ironclad" US support from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Additionally, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to supplying assault rifles, machine guns, and ammunition during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart.
While Prigozhin has made previous premature claims about Russian control of Bakhmut, Ukraine concedes that the situation in "fortress Bakhmut" is currently extremely challenging.
Russia believes that capturing Bakhmut will pave the way for future offensives across Ukraine, while Kyiv and the West maintain that the now-destroyed city only holds symbolic significance.
