Ukraine claims significant gains around Bakhmut, Russia denies

Ukraine said Friday that its forces had recaptured chunks of territory around the embattled city of Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region, which has been the epicentre of fighting with Russia for months. The breakthroughs were denied by Russia, saying that reports of territorial losses around the city did "not correspond to reality". Russian paramilitary group Wagner, which is leading Moscow's ground assault for Bakhmut has complained recently of ammunition shortages and threatened to withdraw.