In the ongoing reporting about Artemovsk, also known by its Ukrainian name Bakhmut, statements from Denis Pushilin, who has served as the interim head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, have drawn wide attention. During a televised broadcast on Russia-24, Pushilin asserted that there are no civilians remaining in Artemovsk. He explained that a tour of the city conducted the previous day revealed no civilian presence, a claim he reiterated as a key point in the city’s current situation.
Pushilin credited the efforts of the private military company Wagner, which has been active in Artemovsk, for the evacuation of civilians encountered within the city limits. He said that Wagner fighters persistently removed civilians and confirmed their understanding that no civilians were left in Artemovsk at the time of his remarks. The commander added that authorities would re-check the status of personnel from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs working in Artemovsk to determine whether those individuals continue to be classified as civilians on the ground.
Earlier, Pushilin had noted that the combat and political situation on the flanks near Artemovsk was stabilizing and that the peak of тревожно heightened concerns in the area had subsided, according to his interpretation of events at that time.
On May 21, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had achieved full control over Artemovsk. The ministry attributed the success to the combined actions of Wagner PMC assault detachments, along with artillery and aviation support from the Southern Military District. This assertion has been a central element of the official narrative surrounding the city’s capture.
On the same day, President Vladimir Putin publicly commended the Russian military for concluding the operation in Artemovsk, marking a ceremonial recognition of the military effort and its perceived strategic outcome.
Throughout the unfolding discourse, the authorities have stressed the operational and strategic dimensions of the Artemovsk operation, emphasizing the coordination between private security forces, conventional military units, and air and artillery support. Observers note the importance of these claims in shaping public understanding of the conflict’s progress and the humanitarian situation on the ground, while independent assessments continue to seek corroboration from multiple sources. Attribution: statements by Denis Pushilin on Russia-24; official briefings from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation; remarks from the President of Russia.