ere's what we know about the situation in Bakhmut

Since Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed Saturday that his forces had completely seized the eastern
Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, there have been claims and counterclaims from both sides.

While CNN cannot independently verify battlefield accounts, here's what the wartime officials are saying:

Zelensky's denial: The Ukrainian leader says his soldiers are still in Bakhmut, despite what Prigozhin says.
"Bakhmut is not occupied by Russian Federation as of today. There are no two or three interpretations of
those words," he said while attending the G7 in Japan on Sunday.

A small foothold: A top Ukrainian general acknowledged the area still claimed by Kyiv's fighters within
city limits is "insignificant." The territory is located on the city's westernmost edge, according to the
country's deputy defense minister.

Advances on the outskirts: However, the same two officials said Ukraine is making advances in the
Bakhmut suburbs and other areas immediately outside the city. The general, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said his
troops have made progress along the city’s flanks and are now approaching the “tactical encirclement”
of Bakhmut.

Putin's congratulations: Russian President Vladimir Putin meanwhile hailed Wagner for the "completion
of the operation to liberate" Bakhmut. The Ministry of Defense in Moscow echoed the president's praise,
declaring victory in the city.

Bakhmut's significance: Bakhmut is located in the northeastern portion of Ukraine's Donetsk region,
about 13 miles from the Luhansk region, and has long been a target for Russian forces. If confirmed,
Russia's capture of Bakhmut would mark the country’s first gain in months, but the city’s symbolism
always outweighed its strategic importance.