Ukraine decided to continue the defense of Artemivsk

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky held a meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander of the country, during which a decision was made to continue the defense of Artemivsk (Ukrainian name – Bakhmut). This was reported in the press service of the office of the President of Ukraine.

“Having considered the course of the defensive operation in the Bakhmut direction, all members of the headquarters expressed a common position on the further maintenance and protection of the city of Bakhmut,” the statement said.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said earlier that the Armed Forces of Ukraine would not defend the city “at any cost.” In early March, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on economic issues Oleksandr Rodnyansky admitted strategic retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Artemovsk, but emphasized that this would not lead to the advancement of the Russian army forward. The adviser added that Russian servicemen are trying to surround Artemovsk and for this they use “the best Wagner troops.”

After that, on March 6, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valery Zaluzhny and Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Alexander Syrsky supported continuation of defensive battles in Artemovsk and strengthening of positions in the city.

The fighting near Artemovsk has been going on for several months. March 11, the founder of PMC “Wagner” Yevgeny Prigozhin informedthat the Russian military is 1.2 km from the administrative center of Artemovsk. On the eve of March 13, it became known that Russian forces cut off ways of transporting the reserves of the armed forces of Ukraine to Artemivsk. It was clarified that Russian forces were advancing northwest of Artemovsk and approaching the railway, along which the Ukrainian side was transferring the main reserves to Chasov Yar, and then to Artemovsk.