Ukraine's Counterattacks Successful in Bakhmut as Wagner Boss Accuses Russian Brigade of Fleeing.

The head of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has said that his forces' flanks were under pressure near the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, resulting in the loss of ground that his men had captured at heavy cost. Prigozhin has argued that it is the job of regular Russian forces to protect Wagner's flanks near Bakhmut, the city at the centre of the longest and bloodiest battle of the war. Russia's defence ministry said earlier that its paratroopers were supporting an advance on the west of the city and had pinned down Ukrainian army units on the flanks.