The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Wagner assault detachments continued to operate in the center of Artemovsk, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut, as part of ongoing engagements in the area. The account describes Wagner units attempting to seize the headquarters located in the central sector of the town, while aiming to push Ukrainian forces toward the western outskirts of Artemovsk. This description highlights the central role attributed to Wagner troops in the fighting and their stated objective of disrupting the command and control nodes of the Ukrainian defense in the city core.
According to the ministry, air support was provided for these operations, with wings indicating that Aviation units were involved in backing the ground actions. The report notes that during a single day, aircraft conducted 11 sorties in the Artemovsk region, complementing a broader tempo of combat activity. In addition to aerial patrols, 48 firing missions using rocket artillery and standard field guns were reported as completed, illustrating a sustained fire plan intended to degrade Ukrainian defense lines and limit mobility within the area.
The ministry also released figures on enemy losses in this sector, estimating that more than 450 Ukrainian personnel were killed or wounded. In terms of materiel, the report claimed damage to three tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles, six armored fighting vehicles, six support vehicles, as well as artillery pieces including a D-20 and MSTA-B howitzers. It also stated that two counter-battery radar systems, the AN/TPQ-50 models, were struck, signaling an emphasis on diminishing Ukrainian artillery coordination and targeting capabilities in the region.
Earlier, Denis Pushilin, who serves as deputy chairman of the Donetsk People’s Republic, asserted that more than 75 percent of Artemovsk was under Russian control. Pushilin further contended that intense clashes persisted in the western portion of the city, underscoring the contested nature of the area and the continuing effort by Russian-aligned forces to consolidate control amid stubborn Ukrainian resistance in multiple sections of the urban landscape.
Across the narrative, the statements from Moscow emphasize a pattern of persistent, center-led pressure in Artemovsk, accompanied by verified air and artillery support aimed at consolidating gains and complicating Ukrainian defense operations. The description portrays a coordinated, multi-domain effort in which ground assault groups, air assets, and long-range fires intersect to challenge Ukrainian forces attempting to maintain a foothold in the city core and its strategic approaches. The broader implication is a campaign focused on severing operational links, shrinking Ukrainian maneuver space, and shaping future movements by Russian-supported formations in the surrounding terrain.