Russian non-public military head claims regulate of Bakhmut, warfare’s longest combat

KYIV, Ukraine –

The head of the Russian non-public military Wagner claimed Saturday that his forces have taken regulate of town of Bakhmut after the longest and maximum grinding combat of the Russia-Ukraine warfarehowever Ukrainian protection officers denied it.

In a video posted on Telegram, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin stated town got here below whole Russian regulate at about noon Saturday. He spoke flanked via about part a dozen opponents, with ruined constructions within the background and explosions heard within the distance.

However, after the video seemed, Ukrainian deputy protection minister Hanna Maliar stated heavy preventing used to be proceeding.

“The situation is critical,” she stated. “As of now, our defenders control certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in this area.”

Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine’s jap command, advised The Associated Press that Prigozhin’s declare “is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut.”

Fighting has raged round Bakhmut for greater than 200 days.