Zelenskyy denies Bakhmut occupied by Russian forces

Ukrainian soldiers fire a cannon near Bakhmut, an eastern city where fierce battles against Russian forces have been taking place, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine (Libkos, File/AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russian forces are not occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow’s claims that the eastern Ukrainian city has fallen.

Responding to a reporter’s question about the status of the city at the Group of Seven meeting in Hiroshima, Japan, Mr Zelenskyy said: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today.”