The Wagner Group of Russian mercenaries has pushed into parts of the strategic city of Bakhmut in Ukraine’s Donbas region, the head of the group claimed.
Yevgeny Prigozhin posted a video on Telegram purporting to show his fighters standing on top of a partly-destroyed building, waving a Wagner flag.
“The lads are mucking about, shooting home video”, he wrote. “They brought this from Bakhmut this morning, practically the centre of the city.”
The eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut has in recent weeks and months been the flashpoint for some of the fiercest clashes between Ukrainian troops and invading forces.
Analysts say taking control of Bakhmut would be a major battle prize for Moscow as it represents “a gateway” to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, both of which have been subject to recent Russian missile strikes. Bringing the city under its remit would also open up a way for the Kremlin’s soldiers to advance further west and north.
Mr Prigozhin on Friday followed up his message by claiming Wagner members, most of whom are convicts, “have practically surrounded Bakhmut”.
Speaking in a video, he claimed the fight for the key city in the Donetsk region was swinging in Russia’s favour. Addressing Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Mr Prigozhin said “the pincers are closing” around Kyiv’s troops still in the area, with only one road out of the city still open.
Appearing in combat uniform, he told the camera: “Units of the private military company Wagner have practically surrounded Bakhmut. Only one route [out] is left.”
The camera panned to show three captured Ukrainians — a grey-bearded older man and two boys — asking to be allowed to go home. Analysis suggests the film was made in Paraskoviivka, a village 7km north of the centre of Bakhmut.
Videos circulating on social media claimed to show Ukrainian forces blowing up bridges in Bakhmut.
Volodymyr Nazarenko, a deputy commander in the National Guard of Ukraine, told Ukrainian NV Radio the situation was “critical”, with fighting going on “round the clock”.
“They take no account of their losses in trying to take the city by assault. The task of our forces in Bakhmut is to inflict as many losses on the enemy as possible. Every metre of Ukrainian land costs hundreds of lives to the enemy”, he said.
“We need as much ammunition as possible. There are many more Russians here than we have ammunition to destroy them.”
On Wednesday, President Zelenskyy said fighting in Bakhmut was at its “most difficult.” Reports early on Thursday suggested Ukrainian troops were hanging on to their positions in the city, but they were said to be coming under constant attack from the Russian side.
If Bakhmut is captured by the invading forces, it would represent Russia's first major victory for more than six months.
Mr Prigozhin, 61, is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin and earned the nickname “Putin’s chef” after his catering company dished out meals for the Russian leader and his guests on several occasions.
The businessman founded the Wagner Group in 2014 and its fighters have played a major role in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Prigozhin last month announced an end to his recruitment drive of inmates from Russian prisons, but failed to offer an explanation for the move. His statement followed reports of institutional pushback against Wagner from other figures in the Russian security services.
Wagner’s claims of battleground gains were seen as an embarrassment for the Russian army.
“The army has to do something about Prigozhin eventually,” a former senior official in Russia’s security services was quoted as saying. “It’ll end badly for him. The points he scored are all about to expire, and nobody likes him.”
Meanwhile, President Putin was on Friday due to hold a regular meeting of the Russian Security Council, a day after scrapping a trip to southern Russia after an attack in a village near the border with Ukraine.
Support for Ukraine on the anniversary of the Russian invasion — in pictures
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Supporters hold a Ukrainian flag at a solidarity march to mark the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Budapest, Hungary. Reuters -
A protest to mark the one-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in Berlin. Reuters -
Supporters in front of Helsinki Cathedral during Light for Ukraine candlelight memorial event at Senate Square in Helsinki, Finland. Reuters -
Representatives stand for a moment of silence during the United Nations Security Council meeting on the maintenance of peace and security of Ukraine at the UN headquarters in New York. AFP -
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty, with Ukrainian ambassador to the UK Vadym Prystaiko, centre, his wife Inna and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces outside 10 Downing Street in London, as they observe a minute's silence. AP -
The Portuguese Parliament is lit with the blue and yellow of the Ukrainian flag, in Lisbon AP -
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government building is lit with the Ukraine national flag colours. Getty Images -
Supporters carry Ukrainian flags during a demonstration in Bangkok. EPA -
Ukrainian volunteers take part in prayers and observe a minute of silence, in south-east England. Getty -
Protesters near the Russian embassy in Seoul, South Korea. EPA -
People lay flowers at a monument of Ukrainian poet, writer, artist, public and political figure Taras Shevchenko, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. AFP -
The Eiffel Tower in Paris is lit up in the colours of Ukrainian flag. EPA -
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo speaks alongside the Ukrainian ambassador to France, Vadym Omelchenko, during the event. AFP -
Watching video-mapping on the Czech Interior Ministry building, in Prague. EPA -
A woman expresses her solidarity with Ukraine at the Czech National Theatre, in Prague. EPA -
Activists place candles forming the peace sign in front of the Brandenburg Gate, in Berlin. AP -
A police officer raises the Ukrainian flag in front of the state parliament of Saxony-Anhalt in Magdeburg, Germany. AP -
A Vilnius University building is illuminated in blue and yellow in support of Ukraine, in Vilnius, Lithuania. AP -
Ukrainian flags placed over the graves of fallen Ukrainian soldiers in a military cemetery in Kharkiv, north-eastern Ukraine. EPA -
A commemoration event with a light installation at the Field of Mars cemetery where hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers are buried, in Lviv, western Ukraine. Getty -
Friends and relatives of fallen Ukrainian soldiers take part in a prayer as Rays of Memory illuminate the night sky over Lychakiv military cemetery in Lviv. EPA -
Rays of memory illuminate the sky over Lychakiv military cemetery in Lviv. EPA -
The National Opera of Ukraine building illuminated by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, in Kyiv. Getty -
A woman takes selfies in front of The National Opera of Ukraine, illuminated by Swiss artist Gerry Hofstetter. Getty -
A candlelit vigil in front of the Russian consulate, in New York. Reuters -
Candles lit outside the Russian consulate in New York during a vigil to commemorate children killed in Ukraine. AFP -
A silent candlelit vigil in New York. Reuters -
A Trafalgar Square vigil organised by the Ukrainian and US embassies in London. AP -
A vigil for Ukraine at Trafalgar Square in London. Reuters -
The Trafalgar Square vigil. Reuters -
Crowds gather at Trafalgar Square. AP -
The Ukrainian ambassador to the UK, Vadym Prystaiko, addresses the London vigil. Reuters -
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace speaks at the vigil. PA -
Actress and activist Helen Mirren addresses the London vigil. PA -
Teddy bears and other toys left by Ukrainian refugees and members of the Avaaz global activist network at Schuman Roundabout, in front of the European Commission, in Brussels. AP -
The EU Council and Commission buildings illuminated in the colours of the Ukrainian flag. EPA -
Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine Andriy Pyshnyi holds banknotes marking the first anniversary of Russia's invasion on Ukraine, in Kyiv. Reuters -
Supporters gather at St Mary's Cathedral Square during the 365 Days Strong rally and candlelight vigil in Sydney. Getty -
France's ambassador to Ukrain Etienne de Poncins, left, and the French Culture Minister Rima Abdul-Malak visit Independence Square in central Kyiv. AFP
