After about eight months of fierce fighting in and around the Ukrainian city of of Bakhmut, Russia is claiming the city has fallen into its hands.

Russia's defense ministry reported on Saturday that the head of the Wagner Group of mercenaries partnered with Russian troops to capture Bakhmut, which is on the eastern side of Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Reports Damage to Ukraine at G7 Summit

During Sunday's Group of Seven Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke about the loss, saying that Bakhumt was now "only in our hearts," according to the New York Post.

"You have to understand that there is nothing [left]. They destroyed everything," Zelenskyy said.

He compared the destruction as being as thorough as the 1945 bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima at the end of World War II, saying the destruction is "just the same, nothing alive left, all of the buildings have been ruined," according to Daily Mail.

The battle for that particular city has been the longest and probably most bloody as Russia's unprovoked attack on the Ukraine rages on.

Zelenskyy participated in the talks with the "strong wish" that that doing so would help garner additional defenses for his country as it continues to resist Russia's attack, according to the New York Post.

Summit Discusses How to Proceed Regarding Russia's Attack on Ukraine

U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said during the summit that, "We've reached a moment where it is time to look down the road again to say what is Ukraine going to need as part of a future force, to be able to deter and defend against Russian aggression as we go forward?”

There were discussions at the G7 summit about new global sanctions being placed on Moscow, as well as financial efforts to hinder Russia's ability to continue to finance its war on Ukraine. However, there have also been questions raised about the effectiveness of the sanctions, especially given the fact that Russia is now the most sanctioned country in the world.

Nevertheless, the G7 leaders released a statement in which they reaffirmed that they intend to continue to support Ukraine, and that they also intend to "stand together against Russia's illegal, unjustifiable and unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine," according to the New York Post.

At the end of the summit, Zelenskyy issued a warning about the importance of world unity against Russia, according to VOA News.

Zelenskyy said he believed it was only, "a matter of time before other criminals in public office want to start similar wars. I am here in Hiroshima so that the world can hear the Ukrainian call for unification from here."

Also on the last day of the Summit, Biden announced that the U.S. would provide a $375 million package of military aide for Ukraine, which included armored vehicles and artillery, according to Reuters.

"Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine's back and I promise we're not going anywhere," Biden said to Zelensky.

The summit included Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy and Canada.

Ukraine Military Leaders Report They Have a Small Stronghold

In what could be considered a glimmer of hope, General Oleksandr Syrskyi said in a Telegram post picked up by Daily Mail that Kyiv's troops have been able to advance on Russian troops in the suburbs and nearly had a "tactical encirclement" of the city.

Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar confirmed Syrskyi's report, saying, "Our forces have taken the city in a semi-encirclement, which gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy...the enemy has to defend himself in the part of the city he controls."

She added that Ukraine troops have been able to defend the industrial and infrastructural facilities and have taken control of part of the overlooking heights.