Owner of PMC “Wagner” claims capture of Bakhmut by mercenaries, Ukrainian Defense Ministry denies it

The owner of PMC “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin through his press service reported about the “complete capture” of Bakhmut by mercenaries. In the Armed Forces of Ukraine, his statement was denied.

According to him, the last high-rise building in the south-west of the city, held by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, came under the control of PMCs around noon. Prigozhin posted a video where he stands with mercenaries against the background of destroyed houses with the Russian flag and the PMC emblem.

The owner of the Wagner also stated that only mercenaries participated in the battles for Bakhmut, without help from regular army units. He added that from May 25, the Wagnerites will go on vacation and retraining. Until that time, defense lines will be created in the city and Bakhmut will be handed over to Russian troops.

Prigozhin thanked Russian Army General Sergei Surovikin “for the opportunity to carry out a difficult operation” and Russian President Vladimir Putin “for the high honor of defending our homeland.”

SEE ALSO: The Washington Post: Prigozhin offered Kyiv information about the positions of the Russian military in exchange for a retreat from Bakhmut

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry denies the capture of Bakhmut. “Heavy fighting in Bakhmut. The situation is critical. At the same time, our troops are holding the line in the Airplane area,” informed Deputy Head of Department Anna Malyar in her telegram channel.

The representative of the eastern group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sergei Cherevaty, also denied Prigozhin’s statement about the capture of Bakhmut.

“We saw and listened to what the Russians write – pi ***! Even some fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine say that they have already taken Bakhmut [что город оккупировали россияне]. While this is an information attack. At the moment, we have not left [из Бахмута]”, — said he is in the comment “Vilne radio”.

At the same time, Cherevaty admitted that the situation in Bakhmut remains difficult. “We are continuing another operation to encircle the city, and we are moving pretty well in this regard. In the city, given that there is a very small area left, and it is already easy to shell and keep a lot of people there [трудно]. Therefore, it is clear that sooner or later, for security reasons, we will get out of there,” he was quoted as saying by the media.