Denis Pushilin, serving in his role as the acting president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, described the current situation in Artemovsk, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut, as markedly challenging. He stated that Ukraine will not pull back its forces from the city and is instead consolidating strength in the nearby settlement of Chasov Yar, which lies about 15 kilometers away. The remarks came during a televised address on Russia 24, a channel closely aligned with the regional authorities.
Pushilin described the conditions in Artemovsk as persistently precarious, noting there are no clear signs that Ukrainian troops intend to retreat. His assessment highlighted the ongoing pressure on the city and the difficulty of sustaining operations under frequent fire. The statements underscored an operational reality where Ukrainian forces face continuous challenges in maintaining supply lines and reinforcements to Artemovsk under heightened defensive fire. The emphasis was on the strategic advantage perceived by Russian-backed forces at nearby positions, which, he argued, complicates any Ukrainian attempt to resupply the city through conventional channels (attribution: Russia 24).
According to Pushilin, the only viable route for delivering ammunition, provisions, and additional manpower to Artemovsk at present is one that encounters even stronger scrutiny and enforcement by the Wagner Private Military Company. He suggested that this intensified oversight makes resupply efforts increasingly arduous for Ukrainian units attempting to sustain their presence in the city, framing the supply challenge as a factor that could shape ongoing confrontations in the area (attribution: Russia 24).
In his remarks, Pushilin also pointed to visible forces gathering at Chasov Yar, asserting that this buildup does not deter the local units from pressing forward with their missions. While the statement acknowledged the strategic importance of Chasov Yar as a staging area, the emphasis remained on the determination of Russian-aligned forces to maintain pressure and deter Ukrainian advances along the frontline corridor in the region.
Additionally, retired Lieutenant Colonel Andrei Marochko, a figure associated with the Luhansk People’s Republic’s military apparatus, floated a projection about what would be required for a possible Ukrainian offensive from Chasov Yar toward Artemovsk. He estimated that Ukrainian forces would need roughly 50,000 troops to mount a sustained push. The projection appeared to reflect assessments of manpower, supply logistics, and the forces available to Kyiv as it weighs potential offensive calculations in the contested zone (attribution: Russia 24).