Russia Claims Wagner Group Mercenaries Take Two New Blocks in Bakhmut

JAKARTA - Russian authorities said on Sunday a Wagner mercenary unit backed by airborne troops had captured two more city blocks in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, which was the target of a major assault by Moscow.

The Wagner Group is known to have spearheaded Russia's attempt to seize Bakhmut since last summer, in the war's longest and deadliest battle for both sides.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Wagner's assault squad had captured two blocks in the northwestern and southeastern parts of Bakhmut, which had been largely destroyed in the fighting.

Russian paratroop units are supporting Wagner by holding Ukrainian troops on the flanks, the ministry added.

Reuters was unable to independently verify Russia's claims, to which Kyiv did not respond directly.

Meanwhile, Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesman for Ukraine's eastern military command said Wagner's forces acted as battering rams and attacked dozens of times a day.

"The enemy continues to attack our positions with vicious zeal," he told the Ukrainian parliament's television channel.

Earlier, Britain said in an intelligence update on Friday last week that Ukrainian troops had been forced to withdraw from several areas of the city in the face of a new Russian offensive.