Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that the command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has organized a reinforcement movement in the area around Artemivsk, known in Ukrainian as Bakhmut, and Soledar. He shared this information in a video message published on his Telegram channel.
According to Zelensky, on January 8 the commander of the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi, visited the frontline positions near these towns to assess the situation and coordinate responses with the troops defending the area.
He stated that the command has taken all necessary measures to bolster the defense, with a focus on transferring additional units and reinforcing artillery fire capabilities to support the sector.
Reports from a former VGTRK war correspondent indicated that fighters connected with the Wagner private military company reportedly gained control of the village of Podgorodnoye in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region.
Earlier, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, drew comparisons between the ongoing clashes around Artemivsk and historic battles such as Borodino and Kulikovo, signaling the intensity and symbolic framing of the confrontation.