Their commander asserts that Russian mercenaries have total control over the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a claim that Ukrainian officials promptly refute.
“We captured the entire city,” Yevgeny Prigozhin said while posing with some of his Wagner combatants.
The deputy defense minister of Ukraine denied the claim but acknowledged the situation was “critical.”
Wagner mercenaries have been spearheading efforts to capture the eastern city, despite having previously claimed to have already done so.
Russia has been attempting to capture Bakhmut for several months with little strategic significance.
Ukraine, for its part, has decided to join a battle that has become the longest and deadliest of the entire conflict.
Mr. Prigozhin, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, presides over the tens of thousands-strong Wagner organization, ostensibly a private military firm.
He has previously asserted that his forces have captured Bakhmut, or the majority of it, only for Ukrainians to promptly refute his claims. Mr. Prigozhin has also targeted senior Russian military officials, publicly criticizing them for failing to provide his troops with sufficient ammunition.
In his most recent video asserting control of Bakhmut, Mr. Prigozhin stated, “No one can pedantically criticize us for not taking at least one piece.”
Explosions can be heard in the background, indicating that combat is taking place near or within the city.
Additionally, he promised to transfer over the city to regular Russian forces later in the month.
Saturday night, state media in Moscow reported that the Russian Ministry of Defense echoed his claims.
Moments later, however, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar issued a statement on the messaging platform Telegram titled “Heavy fighting in Bakhmut.” The circumstance is dire.
Currently, our defenders control a portion of the region’s industrial and infrastructure facilities as well as the private sector.
Officials from the West estimate that between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded in Bakhmut, while the Ukrainian military has also suffered significant losses.
There are few intact buildings remain, and the entire population of the city has vanished.
The latest Wagner allegation surfaced as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky traveled to Japan to attend a G7 summit of the world’s seven most industrialized nations.
His Western allies pledged additional support, including a major step toward providing F-16 fighter aircraft, and announced additional sanctions against Russia.
On February 24 of last year, Russian forces invaded Ukraine and now control portions of its east.
Mr. Zelensky recently stated that additional preparation time is required before Ukraine can commence an offensive to reclaim occupied territories.
He has referred to Bakhmut as “a fortress” of Ukrainian spirit.
Ukraine hopes that the battle for Bakhmut has weakened Russia’s offensive capabilities and depleted its armed forces and provisions.
