Wagner Group from Russia Claims Legal Capture of Bakhmut in Ukraine

The head of Russia’s Wagner private military company, Yevgeny Prigozhin, claimed on Monday that his units had captured the main city administration building in Bakhmut, located in east Ukraine. According to Prigozhin, “in a legal sense, Bakhmut has been captured” and his forces are facing resistance from Ukrainian defenders concentrated in western areas. A video accompanying the post showed Prigozhin holding a Russian flag inscribed in honor of Russian military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky. The fight for Bakhmut is the longest battle of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, with Russian and Ukrainian forces investing heavily in the struggle for the town. However, analysts say the city carries little strategic value. Ukraine claims that the battle for the industrial town is key to holding back Russian forces along the entire eastern front.