he head of the Russian mercenary Wagner group claimed on Saturday to have taken management of the besieged Ukrainian metropolis of Bakhmut, a declare Kyiv denied.

In a video posted on Telegram, Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin mentioned the town got here underneath full Russian management at about noon Saturday.

In distinction, Ukrainian officers mentioned preventing continued within the metropolis, which has witnessed the longest battle of the battle however that the scenario was “critical”.

Prigozhin made the declare whereas surrounded by about half a dozen fighters, with ruined buildings within the background and explosions heard within the distance.

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However, after the video appeared, Ukraine’s deputy defence minister Hanna Maliar mentioned heavy preventing was persevering with.

“The situation is critical," she said. “As of now, our defenders control certain industrial and infrastructure facilities in this area."

Serhiy Cherevatyi, a spokesman for Ukraine's eastern command, also told the Associated Press news agency that Prigozhin's claim “is not true. Our units are fighting in Bakhmut."

Heavy fighting has raged around Bakhmut for more than 200 days.

The claim comes as British officials said on Saturday that Russia has been left with few uncommitted combat units in Ukraine.

In its latest intelligence update, the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) said Russia’s redeployment of “up to several battalions” within the space over the previous 4 days adopted Ukrainian tactical positive aspects on the flanks of the largely destroyed metropolis.

The MoD added: “With Russia likely maintaining relatively few uncommitted combat units in Ukraine, the redeployment represents a notable commitment by the Russian command.

“Russia’s leadership likely continue to see capturing Bakhmut as the key immediate war aim which would allow them to claim some degree of success in the conflict.”

Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is in Japan for talks with the leaders of the world's strongest democracies on the G7 summit.

His private look is aimed toward galvanising Ukraine’s allies for extra help towards Russia’s 15-month invasion.

Kyiv has been making ready for a significant push to take again territory seized by Russia since February final 12 months.

Mr Zelesnky’s go to to the G7 summit comes simply hours after the United States agreed to permit coaching on American-made fighter jets, laying the groundwork for his or her eventual switch to Ukraine. The switch of highly effective fighter jets has been a key request from Kyiv.