Ukraine Russia – live: Wagner still in war near Bakhmut despite Putin’s ban and mutiny, says Pentagon

The Pentagon has said Russian mercenary Wagner Group is still in Ukraine despite pulling out of the war-hit nation and claiming to hand over control to Russian defence ministry fighters last month. “...on Wagner Group and its disposition, what I would tell you is, right now, we continue to see some elements of the Wagner Group in Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine,” Pentagon press secretary brigadier general Pat Ryder said. He added: “...they have been conducting operations in Ukraine for a while now. And so you know, most recently near Bakhmut, and so elements of those units are still in Ukraine.” He was answering a question in press briefing on a new home for Wagner Group in southern Belarus as per the satellite image from a former military base. Mutinous Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin was told his mercenaries would no longer be fighting in Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine after he snubbed Russian defence ministry contracts for his fighters, a senior Moscow politician has said. Read More Ukraine holds drills in Zaporizhzhia to prepare for radiation leaks from Russian-held nuclear plant Ukraine’s push to smash Russian defences on the battlefield: ‘Small advances have colossal meaning’ Pence makes a surprise trip to Ukraine and meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Mystery surrounds fate of Russia’s ‘General Armageddon’ in wake of Wagner mutiny