The Ukrainian ground forces, led by Commander Oleksandr Syrsky, continue to report progress on the Bakhmut front. His remarks were shared through his official Telegram channel, offering an update on the situation in that sector and confirming ongoing operations by Ukrainian units in the field.
According to Syrsky, Ukrainian troops have neutralized a significant portion of the Russian defensive positions in the vicinity of Bakhmut, highlighting a steady tempo of advancement. The commander emphasized that Ukrainian forces are steadily pushing forward under challenging conditions, maintaining pressure on offensive lines and countering enemy positions as part of a broader operating plan.
On May 21, the Russian Defense Ministry’s official spokesperson, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, announced what he described as the completion of the seizure of Artemovsk, the city known to Ukrainians as Bakhmut. The statement contributed to the ongoing information narrative about control in the area and was echoed by other sources following the developments in the region.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of the private military company commonly referred to as Wagner, also weighed in with a provocative assessment, stating that there were no remaining Ukrainian troops in Artemovsk. His comments added to the contested and contested claims circulating about the city and its surrounding fronts, reflecting the broader information dynamics at play in the conflict.
Earlier in the timeline, on February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a decision to initiate a special military operation in Ukraine, framing it as a response to requests from the leaders of the Lugansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. This announcement set in motion a sequence of military and strategic moves, drawing international attention and triggering a new round of sanctions from the United States and allied nations. The move reshaped regional security calculations and had lasting implications for military planning, international diplomacy, and humanitarian considerations in the conflict region, as reported by multiple official channels and analysis notes.