Wagner claims Russia has 'legally' captured Ukraine's Bakhmut

The Russia-Ukraine battle for Bakhmut has raged for months with Wagner supporting Russian troops and Ukraine warning the fall of the town would lead to the loss of huge swathes of its territory.

Russia's Wagner paramilitary group on April 3 claimed it had captured the city hall in Ukraine's eastern town of Bakhmut, giving it "legal" control, but Kyiv said its forces still held the town.

The battle for Bakhmut has raged for months with Wagner supporting Russian troops and Ukraine warning the fall of the town would lead to the loss of huge swathes of its territory.

Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin posted a video on his Telegram channel showing him holding a Russian flag, which he said his forces would plant on Bakhmut's city hall.

"This is the Wagner private military company, these are the guys who took Bakhmut. In a legal sense, it's ours," Mr. Prigozhin said.

Ukrainian military leaders said on Monday after Mr. Prigozhin's video was released that enemy troops had tried to take control of the town, but their forces had "repelled more than 20 enemy attacks".

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier on Sunday praised Ukrainian troops' defence of the city, much of which now lies in ruins.

"I am grateful to our warriors who are fighting near Avdiivka, Maryinka, near Bakhmut... Especially Bakhmut! It's especially hot there today!" Mr. Zelensky said on Telegram.