The Ukrainian military claimed it had "considerably" over 20% of the city under its control. Yevgeny Privozhin’s claim that his Wagner mercenary team had seized more Bakhmut than 80% was false, the military stated.

Russia’s Defence Ministry countered that Wagner forces had taken three blocks of the city. It claimed that Russian forces had attacked Ukrainian army reserves in an attempt to break through.

Russia’s military retreated from an attempt to advance on Kyiv last January in what Moscow calls "special military operations". It has now primarily focused on the capture of Bakhmut, a stepstone to further west in Donetsk.

However, its gains were largely incremental and have been made over many months. Prigozhin made a few premature announcements regarding Wagner’s position at Bakhmut.

Serhiy Cherevatyi (spokesperson for Ukraine’s Eastern Military Command), dismissed Prigozhin’s latest 80% claim in a comment.

"I just got in touch with one of the brigades that are responsible for the defense of the city. He said that he could confidently state that the Ukrainian defense forces have a significantly larger percentage of Bakhmut’s territory."

Konrad Muzyka (director of Rochan’s military consultancy in Poland), said that his calculations ruled out the Russian claim for 80%. He stated on Twitter that the big question was whether the current Russian pace can be sustained.

The Ukrainian forces have held on to Bakhmut for months, where the most intense fighting of Moscow’s February 2022 invasion has claimed thousands of lives and been called the "meat-grinder".

Prigozhin claimed that his forces had taken control of most Bakhmut’s administrative centre, factories and warehouses, as well as municipal buildings.

Cherevatyi stated that "Prigozhin must show at least some sort of victory in the capital, which they have been trying for nine months in a succession and that’s why he is making such statements."

REPELLING RUSSIAN ATTACKS

According to the general staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, there had been no pause in Russian attempts at seizing the city. Ukrainian troops were able to repel nearly 18 attacks. It claimed that Russian forces had failed to seize two villages in the northwest.

According to the general staff report, 14 attacks were also stopped by Ukrainian forces on Maryinka, a hotly contested settlement further south of Avdiivka (a major producer of coke).

Volodymyr Zelenskiy, the Ukrainian President, praised the efforts made to defend Bakhmut and other eastern areas but did not mention the situation in the city.

Zelenskiy addressed a meeting of international institutions that pledged support for Ukraine’s financial stability and called for more assistance in order to rebuild the country and restore normal life following the Russian invasion.

He stated that there would be no ruin in Ukraine in his nightly video address following the meeting. That is our goal. It will be a concrete proof of our complete defeat of terrorist state."

Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, said that approval of an electronic draft paper law would resolve the "mess" created by last year’s call-up to 300,000 conscripts in Moscow. This was to strengthen its forces.

"That’s exactly the purpose for this legislative initiative: To clear up this mess, and make it (the system), modern, efficient and convenient for citizens."

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