Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that Bakhmut was “only in our hearts," hours after Russia’s defence ministry reported that forces of the Wagner private army, with the support of Russian troops, had seized the city in eastern Ukraine.

Speaking alongside US President Joe Biden at the Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima in Japan, Zelensky said: “You have to understand that there is nothing.” “They destroyed everything.”

“For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts,” he said. “There is nothing in this place.”

Following his comments, Zelensky's spokesman denied the Ukrainian president had confirmed the fall of Bakhmut to Russian troops in comments on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan.

"The president denied the capture of Bakhmut," spokesman Sergiy Nykyforov said on Facebook. When asked if Bakhmut was still in Ukraine's hands, after Moscow announced its capture Zelensky had replied, "I think no".

The Russian ministry statement on the Telegram channel came about eight hours after a similar claim by Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin. Ukrainian authorities at that time said fighting for Bakhmut was continuing.

The eight-month battle for the city in eastern Ukraine is the longest and probably most bloody of the conflict in Ukraine. (AP/AFP)
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Last updated: 2023-05-21 HKT 16:32