Ukraine's Zelenskiy: Russia failed to capture Bakhmut by May 9 deadline

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday Russian forces had failed to capture the eastern city of Bakhmut before the May 9 Russian holiday marking the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two.

A Ukrainian general said on Sunday that Russia was still hoping to capture Bakhmut before Tuesday's Victory Day events, and a military spokesman said fighting there continued on Tuesday.

Fierce fighting in Bakhmut has lasted months and Moscow sees capturing the city as a stepping stone to taking other cities in Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland.