The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Zelensky denies Russia has captured key eastern city
Russian forces are not occupying all of Bakhmut according to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, casting doubt on Moscow’s claims that the eastern city has fallen.
Responding to a reporter’s question about the status of the city at the Group of Seven meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, Mr Zelensky said: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.”
“We are not throwing people (away) to die,” Mr Zelensky said in Ukrainian through an interpreter.
“People are the treasure. I clearly understand what is happening in Bakhmut, I cannot share with you the technical details of what is happening with our warriors.”
The fog of war made it impossible to confirm the situation on the ground in the invasion’s longest battle, and a series of comments from Ukrainian and Russian officials added confusion to the matter.
Mr Zelensky’s response in English to a question earlier at the summit about the status of Bakhmut suggested that he believed the city had fallen to Russian forces, and he offered solemn words about its fate.
When asked if the city was in Ukraine’s hands, Mr Zelensky said: “I think no, but you have to – to understand that there is nothing. They’ve destroyed everything – there are no buildings. It’s a pity, it’s tragedy.
“But, for today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing on this place, so – just ground and a lot of dead Russians.”
Mr Zelensky’s press secretary later clarified those comments.
Ukrainian defence and military officials also said that fierce fighting was ongoing.
Deputy defence minister
Hanna Malyar even went as far as to say Ukrainian troops “took the city in a semi-encirclement”.
“The enemy failed to surround Bakhmut, and they lost part of the dominant heights around the city,” Ms Malyar said.
“That is, the advance of our troops in the suburbs along the flanks, which is still ongoing, greatly complicates the enemy’s presence in Bakhmut.”
The spokesman for Ukraine’s Eastern Group of Forces, Serhii Cherevaty, said that the Ukrainian military is managing to hold positions in the vicinity of Bakhmut.
He added: “The president correctly said that the city has, in fact, been razed to the ground.
“The enemy is being destroyed every day by massive artillery and aviation strikes, and our units report that the situation is extremely difficult.”
Hours earlier, Russia’s defence ministry said that the Moscow-backed private army Wagner and military units had “completed the liberation” of Bakhmut.
At the G7 in Japan, Mr Zelensky stood side by side with US president Joe Biden who announced $375 million more in aid for Ukraine.