Conflicting Reports on Ukraine Forces in Bakhmut

The head of the Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said it was still "too early" to say that Bakhmut was surrounded, despite Russian claims that Ukrainian forces were being prevented from entering or leaving the city. Wagner fighters have spearheaded most of the Russian side's efforts to capture the city, which has little strategic value. Both Russia and Ukraine are believed to have suffered heavy losses in the battle to gain control of the city.