A retired Lieutenant Colonel from the Lugansk People’s Militia suggested that after Russian military forces lost control of Artemivsk, the Ukrainian Armed Forces began to desert more frequently and show signs of reduced cohesion. This assessment comes from a source identified as Andrei Marochko of the People’s Republic, and the claim has been circulated by TASS.
Marochko stated that after the city fell from Russian hands, there were more incidents of discipline breakdowns within units that had been actively defending Artemivsk. He noted examples such as sabotage of command orders, desertion, and the unauthorized abandonment of positions by Ukrainian formations involved in the defense of the city. These remarks were attributed to him as observations related to the operational realities on the ground in the area.
The information about the Ukrainian army’s actions, as described by Marochko, was said to have been provided to observers by Russian intelligence channels, according to the interlocutor cited by the agency. This framing highlights how different sides in the conflict exchange intelligence and how such data is presented to the public through state-backed media outlets.
In related comments, Denis Pushilin, who currently serves as acting president of the Donetsk People’s Republic, referenced the city’s strategic situation and mentioned plans that involve measures to tighten control in the aftermath of recent military developments.
On May 21, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that Russian forces had established full control over Artemovsk, marking a significant turning point in the broader engagement around the city. The statement underscored the military capacity attributed to Russian units and framed the control of Artemovsk as a milestone in the ongoing conflict narrative.