Ukraine’s military said its troops were fighting Russian forces outside Bakhmut’s government building on Monday, dismissing Russian claims that mercenary fighters had conquered the eastern city after months of fighting.
The Russians flew a triumph flag over “some type of toilet,” a Ukrainian spokesperson added.
Moscow blamed Ukraine for a Sunday café bombing in St. Petersburg that killed a popular Russian pro-war blogger. In addition, Russia detained a woman accused of bombing the blogger.
The two-year war for Bakhmut has been one of the deadliest, with numerous losses on both sides and much of the eastern city devastated by bombardments.
Street-by-street warfare has moved frontlines.
On Sunday, the Wagner mercenary force’s leader stated his forces had placed a Russian flag on the city’s administration building.
Yevgeny Prigozhin stated that Ukrainian soldiers held several sites.
He claimed in a Telegram video: “Bakhmut was legally abducted. West is where the adversary is.”
Prigozhin made premature assertions.
On Monday, the Ukrainian military reported combat in Bakhmut and other towns.
Eastern military command spokeswoman Serhiy Cherevatiy denied the Russian claim of city takeover. Instead, he reported municipal council building clashes.
“Bakhmut is Ukrainian and they have not grabbed anything,” he told Reuters.
“A toilet was flagged. They tied it to something, hung their rag, and said they had taken the city. Let them assume they took it “Cherevatyi called.
The Ukrainian military stated the Russians were attacking the city, but its defenders were brave.
In his Sunday night video speech, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy honored soldiers battling in Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Maryinka.
“Particularly Bakhmut. It’s hotter there “he remarked.
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