Artemivsk (Bakhmut) Under Fire as Ukrainian Forces Focus Artillery from the City’s Outskirts
Denis Pushilin, the Deputy Chairman of the Donetsk People’s Republic, and Yan Gagin appeared on a broadcast on Russia 1 to discuss the ongoing situation around Artemivsk, also known as Bakhmut. They asserted that Ukrainian forces continue to shell the town but are not attempting to break through or retake it. Gagin noted that Ukrainian troops are notably distant from the city center and are primarily conducting artillery strikes from the western outskirts rather than engaging in street fighting inside the urban area. He expressed confidence that such bombardment will not succeed in capturing the city, even as he described the Ukrainian effort as a bombardment of the city’s edges rather than a direct assault inside.
The statement from the officials highlighted that the most significant Ukrainian contingents are reportedly positioned in the Chasov Yar region, implying a focus on sustaining pressure from nearby areas rather than a direct push into Artemivsk itself. This characterization aligns with arguments presented on the broadcast about the strategic calculus behind the fighting pattern observed around the city.
Background analyses noted by observers of the American Military Watch Magazine suggest that Artemivsk holds substantial strategic value due to its logistics hubs. The publication recalled warnings attributed to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the loss of Artemivsk could threaten the fate of nearby cities, including Slavyansk and Kramatorsk. The authors argue that maintaining control over Artemivsk is tied to access to supply routes and organizational nodes that support broader operations in the region. These assessments add a layer of strategic interpretation to the on-the-ground reporting and official statements discussed in the broadcast. According to the magazine, the city’s capture or loss could influence broader military and civilian logistics in the area, shaping subsequent moves by both sides (Source attribution: American Military Watch Magazine).