 Wagner's leader, Ukraine, launched a counter-offensive and took control of some areas in Bakhmut. The founder of Russia's Wagner mercenary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that Ukrainian units had begun their counter-attack and were approaching Bakhmut from the flanks. While Prigozhin's forces have been fighting in the centre of the city, he has said Ukraine is making gains on its flanks in areas defended by regular Russian troops, some of whom have fled. In response to a Russian media question about Kiev's expected counter-offensive, Prigozhin said Ukrainian operations were, unfortunately, partially successful. The mercenary group leader was asked about comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine's counter-offensive had been delayed while his forces waited for more aid from foreign countries. Prigozhin said Zelensky was being deceptive in saying the offensive had not yet begun. According to him, offensive has begun. For the armed forces of Ukraine, it is now important to break through the Bakhmut direction. The next directions will be the Belgorod-Bryansk regions, with access to the territory of the Russian Federation and Zaporose. They first need to deal with the Bakhmut direction. Therefore, the offensive of the armed forces of Ukraine began, he said. We still need a bit more time, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with European broadcasters. Ukrainian forces had already received enough equipment from Western allies for their campaign but were waiting for the full complement to arrive to reduce casualties, Zelensky said. Russian forces spearheaded by Wagner have been waging an assault on Bakhmut in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region since last summer.