The Ukrainian armed forces say whether Ukrainian defenders have left Bakhmut

Ukrainian defenders have not left Bakhmut, Donetsk Region, but continue to hold their positions in the city and repel attacks by the Russian occupants. This was stated by the speaker of the Eastern Group of Forces of the AFU Serhiy Cherevaty in a commentary to Suspilne.

The enemy is destroying on a daily basis with mass artillery and aviation strikes, and our units report that the situation is very difficult. Our military are holding the fortifications and several premises in the south-western part of the city. Heavy fighting is taking place," he said.

Cherevaty pointed out that the Russian claims about the alleged capture of Bakhmut were premature. At the same time, he agreed that they are trying to take full control of the locality, as they put a certain symbolic meaning in it.

Russia is drawing attention to this Bakhmut as if they have taken the Dnieper. In fact, they haven't taken it all the way. The city is destroyed, it is of no military or even political use to them. In nine months a district centre - not taken. We are trying to put pressure on the flanks, not to let them rest and counterattack if possible," the speaker stressed.

It should be noted that the fighting for Bakhmut has been going on for eight months now. On the previous day, the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevhen Pryhozhyn, said that his mercenaries had allegedly fully captured Bakhmut. The Ukrainian military denied this statement.