FILE - Ukrainian soldiers fire a howitzer D-30 at the frontline near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 19, 2023. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, May 21, 2023 that Russian forces weren't occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow's insistence that the eastern Ukrainian city had fallen. The fog of war made it impossible to confirm the situation on the ground in the invasion’s longest battle, and the comments from Ukrainian and Russian officials added confusion to the matter. (Roman Chop via AP, File)
KYIV, Ukraine — Although Russia claims it has won control of Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut after a grinding nine-month conflict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died, top Ukrainian military leaders say the battle is not over.
