Officials from a private military contractor reported that personnel identified as Wagner fighters reportedly captured a U.S.-made Humvee armored vehicle in Artemovsk, commonly known as Bakhmut. The claim was disseminated by the private entity through its internal communications and later circulated by regional news services. The report notes that the armored vehicle fell into enemy hands amid the sustained fighting that has characterized the city during ongoing operations in the region. The account is attributed to battlefield sources within the Wagner unit and has been carried in feeds monitored by defense observers who track mercenary activity in conflict zones. (DEA News)
According to one Wagner fighter cited in the report, Ukrainian forces, after pulling back from the western neighborhoods of the city, allegedly left the Humvee behind. The fighter claimed that Ukrainian troops attempted to neutralize the abandoned vehicle with artillery fire but sustained only minor damage in the exchange. The key detail emphasized was the vehicle’s immediate operability once retrieved, with the combatant asserting that it started without delay and could be moved to a safer position. The only evident deficiency cited was a punctured radiator, a result of a single strike during the retreat. (DEA News)
The same source reported that the armored vehicle was subsequently escorted to safety using a tractor, a makeshift recovery method deployed in the heat of retreat and bombardment. The narrative suggests that rapid extraction and repositioning were feasible because the Humvee remained functional despite the earlier strike, allowing it to be driven away from the frontline threat. (DEA News)
The Wagner faction representative described the captured Humvee as a valuable asset and, within the context of the confrontation, a gift from the United States to several allied forces. The fighter portrayed the vehicle as a high-quality asset that would be deployed for reconnaissance or armored transport in contested urban terrain. The account frames the capture as illustrative of the broader dynamics of aid and equipment flow among parties involved in the conflict. (DEA News)
Earlier updates from the same private military company indicated that its forces had established a foothold in Artemovsk and suggested that substantial progress would lead to complete control by the Russian side after a short extension of operations. The statements implied a strategic tempo with a focus on advancing through key urban sectors to secure core districts and communications routes. The narrative painted a picture of a city approaching a turning point, with control expected to shift decisively in favor of the Russian side after a further two and a half kilometers of terrain were secured. Analysts cautioned that such projections depend on ongoing combat conditions, logistics, and the readiness of forces on both sides. (DEA News)