Russia forces ’forced to flee’ from Bakhmut after Ukrainian offensive

Moscow acknowledged on Friday that its forces had fallen back north of Ukraine’s battlefield city of Bakhmut after a new Ukrainian offensive, in a retreat that the head of Russia’s Wagner private army called a rout. Kyiv claimed its forces had advanced more than a mile around the shattered ruins of the eastern city. Russian forces have fought for months to seize Bakhmut, without success. The military admitted it was “regrouping“ its forces, suggesting its fighters had fallen back. The leader of a Russian mercenary force gave a different assessment. Yevgeny Prighozin, founder of the Wagner paramilitary group, said the defense ministry was lying, and Russian forces had been routed and forced to flee. The Sun newspaper brings you the latest breaking news videos and explainers from the UK and around the world Become a Sun Subscriber and hit the bell to be the first to know Read The Sun: Like The Sun on Facebook: Follow The Sun on Twitter: Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: #russia #ukraine #ukrainewar