Ukraine vows stronger defense of Artemivsk amid ongoing fighting

In a briefing published on the president of Ukraine’s official site, President Volodymyr Zelensky affirmed that the defense of Artemivsk, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut, will be reinforced. The message underscored a focused and persistent effort to keep Artemivsk under Ukrainian control as part of the broader defense plan. The president’s remarks followed a recent currency meeting, during which top military and security officials shared assessments from the commander-in-chief, intelligence services, and regional command posts. A central point of the discussion was the operational-strategic group of troops designated as Khortitsa, alongside the defense of Artemivsk. The overall stance was clear: strengthen this critical sector to sustain resilience and deter any escalation. The meeting also addressed the ongoing needs for ammunition and weapon supplies to ensure the armed forces can maintain readiness and follow through on their defensive commitments. The Ukrainian leadership reaffirmed the decision of the country’s supreme command to continue defending Artemivsk as a key strategic objective in the eastern front. [Source: Presidential press office]