Zelensky's press secretary Nikiforov denied that the President of Ukraine confirmed the loss of Bakhmut
Vladimir Zelensky's press service denied media reports, according to which the President of Ukraine at the G7 summit in Hiroshima acknowledged the loss of Bakhmut (Russian name — Artemovsk) .
Earlier, a number of English-language media outlets, including Reuters, reported that Zelensky had answered the question of Ukrainian control over the city in the negative. According to his press secretary Sergei Nikiforov, the question about Bakhmut sounded different. Probably, the confusion occurred due to the fact that the journalist who asked the question made two statements, and it was not clear from Zelensky's answer which one he was talking about.
According to the video broadcast of the press conference, it was conducted during Zelensky's meeting with US President Joe Biden — the dialogue went like this:
— Mr. President, is Bakhmut still under the control of the Ukrainian army? The Russians said they had captured the city.
— I think no. But you must understand that there is nothing left, everything is destroyed. This is a tragedy, and today Bakhmut exists only in our hearts.
On the eve of taking control of the city, the head of the PMC "Wagner" Evgeny Prigozhin and the RF Ministry of Defense. Russian President Vladimir Putin officially congratulated PMCs and the ministry.