In Artemovsk, also known as Bakhmut, reports describe a grim incident where two civilians were killed after a confrontation with Ukrainian forces. A fighter connected to the Wagner private military company told a News outlet that the Ukrainian units were conducting what he described as a house clearance, and during the operation, civilians were shot. He claimed that a woman had approached the troops at night to say that hostages were located at the entrance and that an attempt to rescue them in the morning ended with the shooting of two hostages. According to the same account, four civilians were later rescued from the area. This testimony comes from a source who had previously been evacuated from Artemovsk by Russian forces, and the individual asserted that Ukrainian snipers targeted civilians throughout the event. report from a Wagner-associated fighter. The narrative illustrates the brutal realities that emerged in the city during these confrontations.
On a broader historical note, February 24, 2022 marks the day when Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the decision to initiate what he described as a special military operation in Ukraine, citing a request for assistance from the leaders of the LPR and DPR. The assertion framed the operation as a response to perceived threats in the region, a description that has framed much of the subsequent reporting and analysis in the conflict. This context helps explain why various actors have presented contradictory accounts of events in Artemovsk and nearby areas, with civilians frequently appearing as casualties or witnesses in ongoing combat scenarios. statements and contemporaneous reporting regarding the February 2022 actions surrounding the conflict.