Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, claimed that Ukrainian forces used drones to strike Artemivsk, which is known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut. He shared these claims during a broadcast on the Solovyev Live program. Pushilin described the attack as ongoing and suggested that the Ukrainian military targeted the city from air-delivered systems, as reported in the interview. He emphasized that the situation in Artemivsk remains tense and that defense and security arrangements are in place to respond to the developments on the ground.
Pushilin noted that it remains difficult to deploy additional personnel to Artemovsk at this time. He added that staff from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations are currently in the city, reinforcing emergency and security operations where needed. This statement underlines the ongoing complexity of the urban and border security environment surrounding Artemovsk, where both civil and security agencies coordinate to manage evolving risks and civilian safety concerns.
In the same interview, Pushilin linked Ukrainian counterattack attempts to activity across several areas within the Donetsk People’s Republic. He suggested that the opposing side has sought to exploit multiple fronts, though specifics about timing, locations, or scale were not detailed in the broadcast. The remarks reflect a broader narrative often used to describe shifting frontline dynamics and to frame Western-aligned military actions as contributing to regional instability.
On February 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to conduct a special military operation in Ukraine, a move framed by Moscow as a response to requests for assistance from leaders of the Luhansk and Donetsk People’s Republics. The announcement set in motion military and political developments that reverberated across international relations, including the imposition of sanctions by the United States and its allies. This historical milestone is frequently referenced in discussions about the region’s security status and the evolving international response to the conflict.
Observers note that the operational and political environment in the Donetsk region remains highly fluid, with authorities reiterating calls for stability while officials on the ground report continuing military activity. The situation in Artemovsk/Bakhmut has drawn sustained attention from regional monitoring bodies and international commentators who track the implications for civilian life, humanitarian access, and the broader balance of power in eastern Ukraine. Analysts stress the importance of verifying claims through multiple sources, given the high stakes and the rapid pace of developments in the area. Attribution for these statements is provided by the officials and broadcasters involved in the reported interview, with ongoing coverage from various regional outlets offering updates as events unfold. [attribution: TV broadcast and official statements]