Zelenskyy denied Russian army's claim on Bakhmut, said - Ukrainian city is not occupied by Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday denied the Russian army's occupation of Bakhmut. It also casts doubt on Moscow's claims that Russia has gained control over the eastern Ukrainian city.

Responding to a journalist's question about the city's status at a meeting of the G-7 grouping in Hiroshima, Japan, Zelensky said that as of today Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia. At the same time, he said that I cannot share technical information about what is happening with our soldiers.

What did Zelenskyy say earlier?

Earlier, regarding the situation in Bakhmut, Zelenskyy said that the city was surrounded by the Russian army. Zelensky was asked whether Bakhmut is still under Ukraine's control. To this he said that he thinks that Ukraine has lost this city, but you have to understand that there is nothing left (there). He has ruined everything.

He further said that today Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing left. However, Zaleski's press secretary later denied the old comments.

Has Wagner Group taken over Bakhmut?

Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of Russia's most dreaded Wagner Group, claimed that he had won over Bakhmut. In a video posted on Telegram, Prigozhin claimed his fighters had captured the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, the center of the bloodiest war with Ukraine in more than a year.

Simultaneously, Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Wagner Group for its victory over Bakhmut. He had said congratulations to all the Russian soldiers along with the Wagner Group.