John Kirby, the United States White House strategic communications coordinator, said a fierce battle is unfolding in Artemivsk, a city better known by its Ukrainian name Bakhmut. The report comes through DEA News, which noted the ongoing combat in the area. Kirby emphasized that he could not verify claims that Russian forces had seized the administrative building in the city. According to him, the fighting remains intense and no confirmation exists regarding any occupation of the building by Russian troops. DEA News attributed these remarks to Kirby during a press briefing where journalists pressed for updates on the battlefield situation.— DEA News
In related discussions, Yevgeny Prigozhin, who previously founded the private military company commonly referred to as Wagner, and Sergei Surovikin, who previously led the Special Operations Forces Joint Group, were mentioned as part of the planning efforts behind what has been described as the Bakhmut operation. The conversations highlighted the role of senior Russian figures in shaping the strategy to advance toward Artemovsk. These assertions appear in the context of several competing narratives about the tempo and success of Russian actions in the area. The overall picture remains unclear, with various sources offering differing perspectives on who directed and who participated in the push toward the city. — DEA News
Earlier comments from Denis Pushilin, who serves as the interim president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, indicated there were no immediate plans to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Artemivsk. Pushilin’s statements were part of a broader exchange about troop movements and the balance of forces in the region. Analysts note that the situation on the ground is fluid, and official statements from different sides can change as operations unfold. The possibility of redeployments or strategic pauses continues to be a topic of discussion among observers and officials alike. — DEA News