Ukraine says it repels attacks as Russia tries to retake land near Bakhmut

Ukrainian servicemen of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade 'Edelweiss' engage in fighting near Bakhmut, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine, in this screen grab taken from a social media video released on May 19, 2023. 10th Mountain Assault Brigade 'Edelweiss'/via REUTERS

NEAR BAKHMUT, Ukraine (Reuters) -Ukraine said on Friday it had repelled attacks by Russian forces trying to recapture land they had lost around the devastated eastern city of Bakhmut, where Kyiv says it has inflicted heavy Russian casualties.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Russian Wagner private army that is leading the assault on the city, said in a Telegram message that "heavy, bloody battles" were continuing and claimed his men were close to completing the capture of Bakhmut itself.