Ukrainian commander says Wagner is throwing its "most trained" units into battle for Bakhmut

The situation around the embattled city of Bakhmut is "extremely tense," partly because of the involvement of the "most trained" assault units of Russian mercenary group Wagner, the commander of Ukraine's ground forces said on Tuesday.

According to a Telegram post from Ukraine’s military media center, Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said that "despite significant losses," in the fight for the eastern city, "the enemy has thrown the most trained Wagner assault units into the offensive, trying to break through the defense of our troops and surround the city.”

Ukrainian troops have been struggling to maintain access to Bakhmut as Russian forces have been gradually advancing north and west of the city in recent weeks.