Zelensky’s adviser allowed a “strategic retreat” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Artemivsk

Advisor to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on economic issues Oleksandr Rodnyansky in an interview with CNN declared on the possibility of retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (APU) from Artemovsk if necessary.

“Our military will obviously weigh all possible options. For now, they hold the city, but if necessary, they will retreat strategically, because we do not want to sacrifice all our people just like that, ”Rodnyansky said. He stressed that such a decision should be made by the command of the Ukrainian army.

The adviser added that the Russian army is trying to encircle Artemovsk right now and “the best Wagner troops” are being used for this. He also noted that if the Armed Forces of Ukraine retreat, this does not mean the advance of Russian troops forward. “Make no mistake, our counteroffensives are just around the corner,” he concluded.

February 27, Advisor to the Acting Head of the DPR Igor Kimakovsky informedthat the battles for are already “practically in the center” of the city. According to him, the advanced detachments of PMC Wagner are now located there. Kimakovsky added that it is too early to talk about the encirclement of the city, but all the roads around it are under the fire control of Russian troops.

The fighting near Artemovsk has been going on for several months. In mid-February, Kimakovsky spoke about the capture of all the heights in the vicinity of Artemovsk. On February 1, on the air of Channel One, military expert and ex-lieutenant colonel of the LPR Andrey Marochko informedthat in order to capture Artemovsk, ten kilometers remained to be covered.