Yevgeny Prigozhin declared on Saturday that his Wagner soldiers had successfully taken over Bakhmut. However, Ukrainian military spokesperson Serhiy Cherevatyi denied Prigozhin’s statement, stating that fighting was still ongoing in Bakhmut. Prigozhin’s announcement was made in a video, in which he appeared in combat fatigues in front of fighters holding Russian flags and Wagner banners. Bakhmut has been the site of the longest and deadliest conflict in Ukraine’s war. The fierce fighting, which took place in the city in the past week, was believed to be a significant step forward by Ukraine in pushing back Russian forces. Prigozhin mocked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. President Joe Biden, who were attending a Group of Seven summit in Japan, where the Ukraine War was the primary topic of discussion. Prigozhin stated that the regular Russian army would take over Bakhmut from his forces, who would withdraw from the city from May 25 for rest and training.