Ukraine war: Russia's Wagner Group 'controls' all of eastern Bakhmut

Russia's Wagner Group of mercenaries has taken full control of the eastern part of Bakhmut, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said.

"Units of the private military company Wagner have taken control of the eastern part of Bakhmut," Prigozhin said in a voice recording on the Telegram messaging platform of his press service. "Everything east of the Bakhmutka river is completely under the control of Wagner."

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned that Bakhmut might fall into Russian hands in the coming days following months of intense fighting.