Russian and Ukrainian forces engage near Artemovsk as clashes continue
Military reports indicate Ukrainian units are pressing to breach Russian defenses around Artemovsk, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut. The update comes from RIA News, quoting the crew commander of a MSTA-B howitzer from the 150th division of the Southern Military District, who uses the call sign Beard.
On the evening of December 3, a Russian military analyst noted that Russian troops had moved into positions near Artemovsk that Ukrainian forces had held since spring. The remark stresses ongoing attempts by Ukrainian forces to break through, while the assessment remains that these efforts have not succeeded and are unlikely to succeed in the near term.
Earlier reports from RIA Novosti, citing the Russian Defense Ministry, described Ukrainian units yielding ground in the Artemovsk direction. The ministry said Russian paratroopers disrupted the Ukrainian defense lines in Artemovskoye and at approaches to the village during reconnaissance missions. The ministry attributed demoralization among Ukrainian forces to precise strikes against designated strong points and weapons caches.
Additionally, a Ukrainian military commander reportedly acknowledged that Russia holds an advantage in the use of FPV drones, suggesting a factor in battlefield dynamics.
These updates reflect a pattern of intense, sustained combat in and around Artemovsk, with both sides highlighting advances and setbacks across different sectors of the frontline. The situation remains fluid, with periodic claims of breakthroughs hedged by cautious assessments from official sources and independent observers alike. In such a high-stakes theater, tactical movements, reconnaissance operations, and drone activity continue to shape the evolving tactical picture in this region.
At present, analysts emphasize the importance of logistics, air support, and the ability to maintain defensive lines as central to any potential changes in control near Artemovsk. Observers also note the role of long-range precision fires and the pace of regaining or reinforcing positions as critical elements in the broader contest between the two forces.