Russia Struggles to Deny Ukrainian Advances in Bakhmut

Russia has denied claims by pro-Moscow bloggers and the head of the Wagner mercenary group that Ukrainian troops had made a breakthrough in the flashpoint city of Bakhmut. The Defense Ministry said that the individual declarations on Telegram about a "breakthrough" on several points on the front line do not correspond to reality. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that mentally they are ready for a counter-offensive against Russian forces, but they need more time as not all equipment has arrived yet.