
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the chief of Russia's mercenary group Wagner claimed on Friday (February 17) that a village near Bakhmut has been captured.
"The settlement of Paraskoviivka is completely under the control of Wagner PMC units. Despite the blockade of ammunition, despite heavy losses and bloody battles, the guys completely occupied the entire territory of Paraskoviivka," Yevgeny Prigozhin said, quoted by his press service.
Paraskoviivka is a village just north of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. Russia has been trying hard to fully control the region.
For several weeks, Russian forces have been posting painstaking incremental gains north of Bakhmut and said they had cut off three out of four Ukrainian supply routes to the city.
But Prigozhin has also said it could take months to capture the embattled city that has turned into a key political and symbolic prize.
Kyiv on Monday conceded a "difficult" situation north of Bakhmut, shortly after Moscow claimed control of the village of Krasna Gora, adjacent to Paraskoviivka.
There was no immediate comment from Russia's defence ministry on Paraskoviivka's capture.
(With inputs from agencies)
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