The Facts
On Monday, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US military think tank, confirmed Russian advances in the city of Bakhmut after Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Russian mercenary force Wagner PMC, claimed to have captured its center and raised the Russian flag over its city hall on Sunday night.
This echoed Denis Pushilin, head of the pro-Russia Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) — which is fighting alongside Wagner — who said pro-Russia forces have since extended their gains in Bakhmut, claiming they have reached close to the city's main railway station.
The Spin
Pro-Russia narrative
Russia continues to make gains in Bakhmut, with all Ukrainian supply routes in and out of the city under the control of artillery fire. It's only a matter of time before Russian forces claim complete control over Donetsk city.
Anti-Russia narrative
Fierce fighting has already been going on in Bakhmut for months, and even if Russia prevails, it will have lost so many men and so much equipment that the result could hardly be celebrated. A Moscow victory in the region might be a symbolic gain but would provide little strategic benefit in the wider conflict.