Russian troops are close to the operational encirclement of Artemovsk (the Ukrainian name is Bakhmut), although it is still too early to talk about this. This was announced on Saturday, February 4, by the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin.
“Artemovsky direction. Here the liberation of the neighborhood continues. It is premature to talk about the operational environment of Artemovsk, but I can say that it is close enough,” Pushilin said in a video message on his Telegram channel.
At the same time, Pushilin added that fierce battles were being fought in Artemovsk itself, and in particular in the area of the meat processing plant.
Earlier in the day, Pushilin said Russian troops were approaching Ugledar from the south, southwest, and west. According to him, progress in this direction has somewhat slowed down. He explained this by strengthening the brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps, which was transferred to this direction.
At the same time, the acting head of the DPR assured that, despite the resistance, the Russian army would achieve its tasks.
On February 3, a military-political expert, adviser to the acting head of the Donetsk Republic (DPR), Yan Gagin, admitted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) could potentially leave those mobilized in Artemivsk to cover the retreat of the main group of troops. According to him, the Ukrainian military has already used such a technique in Soledar.
On the same day, Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, did not voice the real losses of Ukraine in Artemivsk. During an interview with the Spanish publication 20 minutos, the official explained that Ukraine would reveal the death toll only after the end of hostilities.
The special operation to protect the Donbass, the beginning of which Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on February 24, continues. The decision was made against the background of the aggravation of the situation in the region due to shelling by the Ukrainian military.
For more up-to-date videos and details about the situation in Donbass, watch the Izvestia TV channel.
