from ZeroHedge:

As we detailed Wednesday, Russian forces have at this point taken full control of the eastern part of the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut as one of the bloodiest battles of the year-long war appears close to ending.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has since acknowledged that Bakhmut might fall to Russian forces in the “coming days” amid reports of rapid gains, which has been spearheaded by the Russian mercenary outfit Wagner Group. “We cannot rule out that Bakhmut may eventually fall in the coming days,” Stoltenberg told a press briefing in Stockholm. But like with statements from Pentagon generals of late, he quickly tried to downplay the city’s strategic importance.