Ukraine Responds to Russia After Announcing Control Over Bakhmut

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces responded to Russian claims, stating that Ukraine repelled 45 Russian attacks in the past 24 hours, noting that Bakhmut was the "operational center" along with the cities of Avdiivka and Marinka. They added in a Facebook post: "The enemy is trying to establish complete control over the city of Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces repelled nearly 20 enemy attacks along the front line." A spokesperson for the Eastern Ukrainian military command told Reuters: "Bakhmut is Ukrainian, and they have not seized anything; they are very far from achieving that." Spokesperson Serhiy Cherevaty remarked: "They raised the flag on toilets. They raised it in an unknown place, hung a piece of cloth, and claimed they took the city." U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby stated on Monday that Ukraine is still fighting fiercely for Bakhmut, describing the battles as "very intense and with heavy fighting."