Ukraine-Russia war latest: Wagner chief poses with ‘body of US fighter’ killed in Bakhmut

Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group of Russian mercenaries, has posed with the body of what he claims is a US citizen killed fighting for Ukraine in Bakhmut.

In the footage posted to Telegram soldiers are heard shouting “into the shelter, mortar attacks from the west side”.

Footage filmed at night appears to show Prigozhin inspecting a body and what he claims to be US identification documents.

The Telegraph did not independently verify the authenticity of the documents or nationality of the body shown in the video.

It comes as Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, said on a visit to the eastern town that “Wagner’s men went into Bakhmut like rats into a mousetrap.

“Using the principle of active defence, we are using counter-offensive actions in some areas near Bakhmut,” he added.