Zelensky: Russia has turned Bakhmut into our Hiroshima

VOLODYMYR Zelensky last night denied Kremlin claims that Russia has captured the city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine.

But the Ukrainian president did admit that the strategic city was completely destroyed – comparing it to Hiroshima after it was hit with an atomic bomb.

The Russian defence ministry claimed Bakhmut, which has been the scene of the longest and bloodiest battle since the invasion, had been fully ‘liberated’ by the paramilitary Wagner group. Mr Zelensky told reporters at the G7 meeting in Japan: ‘Bakhmut is not occupied by Russia Federation as of today. There are no two or three interpretations of those words.’

Speaking in Hiroshima, the president compared the oncedestroyed city to Bakhmut, saying: ‘There is absolutely nothing alive. All the buildings are destroyed... There are the pictures of the tragedies of Hiroshima, and then the pictures of what we can see today. I consider that the same will take place in Bakhmut.’ On Saturday the Russian defence ministry said: ‘As a result of offensive actions by Wagner assault units, supported by artillery and aviation of the southern group of forces, the liberation of Artyomovsk has been completed.’

But Ukrainian officials were quick to deny Bakhmut – which the Russian army has been trying to gain control of since last August – was in the Kremlin’s hands.

General Oleksandr Syrsky said Russian forces controlled an ‘insignificant’ portion of the eastern city, while deputy defence minister Hanna Malyar claimed that Ukrainian troops are advancing ‘in the suburbs on the flanks’.

Ukrainian soldiers have ‘semiencircled the city’, she said, adding that Ukraine was still in control of a residential area and some industrial facilities.

Last year Mr Zelensky said the outcome of the battle for Bakhmut will ‘change the trajectory of our war for freedom and independence’. Moscow says the capture of the city will allow it to advance deeper into the Donbas region, which it claims it has annexed.

As the fate of Bakhmut hangs in the balance, Mr Zelensky reminded Western leaders not to hand too many concessions to Moscow in any ceasefire deal.

‘It is only a matter of time before other criminals in public office want to wage similar wars,’ he said. ‘If Russia is allowed to keep even a slither of the territory it occupies, international law will never again apply.’

He also said Ukraine is ‘confident’ of receiving F-16 fighter jets from the West after US president Joe Biden waved through the move after initial reluctance.

Mr Biden yesterday said he had been assured that the planes would not be used to attack Russian territory.