The Russian army said Ukrainian troops entrenched in the town of Bakhmut are now blocked by its military units, but the head of the Wagner private militia, Yevgeny Prigozhi, says there is no "complete encirclement" yet.
“The (Russian) airborne troops are supporting the assault groups of the Wagner paramilitary group on the flanks, blocking the sending of the Ukrainian army reserves to the city and the possibility of a withdrawal,” the Moscow Defense Ministry said, in an update on the situation in the locality, the epicenter of fierce fighting for months.
According to Prigozhin, however, it is "premature" to speak of a "complete encirclement" of Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut, "The Ukrainian army continues to bring reinforcements and transfer them to the city. Difficult and bloody fighting is underway, so it is premature to speak of an encirclement complete with Bakhmut," said the head of Wagner, when asked about the statements of the Moscow defense.
For her part, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said heavy fighting continued in Bakhmut.
"Despite the fact that the enemy has concentrated its most competent units, including Wagner fighters, airborne assault units and
special forces, the Russians cannot achieve their goals, which is to take full control of Bakhmut," he said. said Maliar at a press conference in Kiev.
"To date - she added - the Russians are suffering huge losses there and, despite these losses, they do not stop and still want to
achieve their goal of taking control of the city".