Zelensky’s spokesperson clarifies Ukrainian leader’s ‘no’, says he denied fall of Bakhmut

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s press secretarySergii Nykyforov has clarified therecent statement made by the leader on the fall of Bakhmut.

“Reporter’s question: Russians said they have taken Bakhmut. President’s reply: I think no,”Sergii Nykyforov wrote on Facebook, as he claimed that the leader was responding to a different part of the reporter’s question.

In Ukrainian language, he added, "In this way, the president denied the capture of Bakhmut."

Zelensky earlier onSunday appeared to have confirmed the news of the warring nation having lost the city of Bakhmut when he was asked if the region is still in Ukraine's hands since Russia claims it has taken it over.

“I think no,” said Zelensky, while answering about the current status of Bakhmutas he satalongside US President Joe Biden during a meeting which was being held on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

“You have to understand that there is nothing left in this place. They destroyed everything.. just ruins and a lot of dead Russians, but they came to us," he said,

Zelensky stated thatUkraine’ssoldiers did "strong work" and "we appreciate their great job".

"For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing in this place. It is a tragedy,” he added.

On Saturday, Russia had claimed that ithas fully captured the war-torn eastern Ukrainian city. The fall of the city will mark the end of the bloodiest and longest battle in the already 15-month-old war.

The Wagner Group of mercenaries led the assault on the largely levelled Ukrainian city. Earlier, Wagner Group's leader Yevgeny Prigozhin said that the Ukrainians have been finally pushed out of the last built-up area inside the city.

The Russian ministry issued a statement on Telegram almost eight hours after Prigozhin's claims. However, Kyiv denied the claim made by Prigozhin and stated that the fight for Bakhmut is still going on.

Referring to the city through its Soviet-era name, the Russian ministry stated, “In the Artyomovsk tactical direction, the assault teams of the Wagner private military company with the support of artillery and aviation of the southern battlegroup have completed the liberation of the city of Artyomovsk.”

The state news agencies of Russia had cited Kremlin’s press service as stating President Vladimir Putin “congratulates the Wagner assault detachments, as well as all servicemen of the Russian Armed Forces units, who provided them with the necessary support and flank protection, on the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk.”

WATCH |Wagner Group: Russia did not supply with adequate ammunition | Russia-Ukraine War

Biden unveils newarms, ammunition package for Kyiv

United States President Joe Biden on Sunday unveiled a new weapons package for Kyiv as he held talks with Zelensky in Hiroshima, which is likely to become part of a large-scale counteroffensive which will be soon launched to push Russians back from the occupied territories.

Biden stated that the package would include "ammunition, artillery, armoured vehicles". The announcement comes days after the country permitted allies to transfer advanced F-16 jets to Ukraine.

“The United States continues to help Ukraine respond, recover and rebuild. We're also supporting peace,” Biden stated.

(With inputs from agencies)

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