May 21, 2023 Russia-Ukraine war news

By Heather Chen, Andrew Raine, Sophie Tanno, Maureen Chowdhury, Mike Hayes and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 12:05 a.m. ET, May 22, 2023

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10:28 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

Putin congratulates Wagner mercenaries, Russian armed forces amid claims they have taken Bakhmut

From CNN's Jonny Hallam

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at a press conference in Moscow on September 9, 2021. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images/FILE

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday congratulated Wagner mercenaries and Russia's military after they claimed to have taken control of the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

"Vladimir Putin congratulates the Wagner assault detachments, as well as all units of the Russian Armed Forces, which confirmed the presence and closure of the flanks, on the completion of the operation to liberate Artemovsk," the Kremlin said, using the Soviet-Russian name for Bakhmut, according to Russian state news agency TASS.

"All distinguished fighters will be granted state awards," the Kremlin added.

12:01 a.m. ET, May 21, 2023

CNN's Erin Burnett reacts to being banned from Russia, along with hundreds of other Americans

Prominent American figures — including US dignitaries, entertainment icons and CNN journalists — will no longer be allowed to enter Russia, according to the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The list contains hundreds of names, ranging from former US President Barack Obama to late night television hosts Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel and Seth Meyers, as well as former US Ambassador Jon Huntsman, several US senators and the next expected chairman of the joint chiefs, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr.

CNN's Erin Burnett was among those included in the growing list of US journalists sanctioned by Moscow. She said Friday that the move by Russia is "why covering this war every night matters, and we will continue to do it."

"Something supremely important to all of us is happening in Ukraine and also inside Russia, where tonight Putin's allies are turning on their own and telling those who are critical of Putin's war to be quiet," Burnett said.

See her reaction here: