ISTANBUL 

The head of the Wagner paramilitary group on Tuesday claimed that a US citizen fighting in the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, a hot spot in the Ukraine war, was killed.

In a video shared by Russian military correspondent Alexander Simonov on Telegram, Yevgeny Prigozhin is shown inspecting a body, and what he said are US identification documents.

“Here we have veteran Nicholas, we will hand him over to the United States of America, put him in a coffin, cover him with the American flag with respect, because he did not die in bed as a grandfather, but died in the war and, most likely, with dignity,” Prigozhin said.

US officials have not yet responded to the claims.