Putin claims capture of Bakhmut, insists on not ending Ukraine’s war

Vladimir Putin has hailed his first major victory since the early days of the invasion of Ukraine, claiming Russian forces had captured the eastern city of Bakhmut, despite the Kiev battle “not over”. was insisting

Russia’s president said the paramilitary group Wagner had seized the Ukrainian city with the help of Russia’s armed forces after months of bloody fighting that left the city in ruins, with more than 100,000 casualties.

“Those who have distinguished themselves will be put forward for state awards,” the Kremlin said in a statement released overnight on Sunday.

The Battle of Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest fighting in Ukraine since Putin launched his full-scale offensive in February 2022. Heavy fighting took place there last May, but intensified in the autumn and winter.

It was not immediately clear whether Russia had captured the entire city. Ukraine’s military said fighting continued on the western outskirts of Bakhmut and Kiev’s counter-attacks on Russian forces continued on the northern and southern flanks, where they have gained about 10 square miles over the past week.

Speaking at the G7 summit of advanced economies in Japan, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky disputed Russia’s claim that it had taken the entire city, but suggested that any victory would be pyrrhic.

“You have to understand, there is nothing. They destroyed everything. There are no buildings,” Zelensky said. “It’s a pity, it’s a tragedy but for today Bakhmut is only in our hearts (…) There is just land and a lot of dead Russians. But they came to us.

The siege was led by caterer-turned-warrior Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s founder, who for much of the year remained embroiled in a bitter public dispute with the Russian general staff over supplies. He said on Saturday that his group had captured Bakhmut without any significant support from regular armed forces.

Prigozhin recorded his video in front of the Bakhmut railway station, more than two miles from the western front of the city he claimed to have captured. The artillery fire was still heard nearby.

Ukraine’s military denied that Russia had taken control of the city. “The enemy carried out unsuccessful attacks over the past 24 hours,” the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. “The battle for the city of Bakhmut is not over.”

Serhiy Cherevtyi, a military spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern command, told the Financial Times by phone on Saturday that Russian forces had recaptured most of Bakhmut, but heavy fighting was still ongoing on Chaikovskoho Street, a main street in the city, and some blocks away. Are. along its western and northwestern shores.

Despite Prigozhin’s claims, Wagner had not established complete control over Bakhmut. Cherevaty argued that during the battle “the Ukrainian army broke Wagner”.

Vladimir Putin has hailed his first major victory since the early days of the invasion of Ukraine, claiming Russian forces had captured the eastern city of Bakhmut, despite the Kiev battle “not over”. was insisting

Russia’s president said the paramilitary group Wagner had seized the Ukrainian city with the help of Russia’s armed forces after months of bloody fighting that left the city in ruins, with more than 100,000 casualties.

“Those who have distinguished themselves will be put forward for state awards,” the Kremlin said in a statement released overnight on Sunday.

The Battle of Bakhmut has been the longest and bloodiest fighting in Ukraine since Putin launched his full-scale offensive in February 2022. Heavy fighting took place there last May, but intensified in the autumn and winter.

It was not immediately clear whether Russia had captured the entire city. Ukraine’s military said fighting continued on the western outskirts of Bakhmut and Kiev’s counter-attacks on Russian forces continued on the northern and southern flanks, where they have gained about 10 square miles over the past week.

Speaking at the G7 summit of advanced economies in Japan, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky disputed Russia’s claim that it had taken the entire city, but suggested that any victory would be pyrrhic.

“You have to understand, there is nothing. They destroyed everything. There are no buildings,” Zelensky said. “It’s a pity, it’s a tragedy but for today Bakhmut is only in our hearts (…) There is just land and a lot of dead Russians. But they came to us.

The siege was led by caterer-turned-warrior Yevgeny Prigozhin, Wagner’s founder, who for much of the year remained embroiled in a bitter public dispute with the Russian general staff over supplies. He said on Saturday that his group had captured Bakhmut without any significant support from regular armed forces.

Prigozhin recorded his video in front of the Bakhmut railway station, more than two miles from the western front of the city he claimed to have captured. The artillery fire was still heard nearby.

Ukraine’s military denied that Russia had taken control of the city. “The enemy carried out unsuccessful attacks over the past 24 hours,” the Ukrainian military said on Sunday. “The battle for the city of Bakhmut is not over.”

Serhiy Cherevtyi, a military spokesman for Ukraine’s eastern command, told the Financial Times by phone on Saturday that Russian forces had recaptured most of Bakhmut, but heavy fighting was still ongoing on Chaikovskoho Street, a main street in the city, and some blocks away. Are. along its western and northwestern shores.

Despite Prigozhin’s claims, Wagner had not established complete control over Bakhmut. Cherevaty argued that during the battle “the Ukrainian army broke Wagner”.