The Ministry’s statement indicated that “the city of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut for Ukrainians) was completely liberated thanks to the decisive actions of the assault teams that allowed Russia to take full control over the important stronghold.”

President Vladimir Putin congratulated the assault teams of the Wagner private military company and Russian troops that provided them with the necessary support and flank protection for the complete liberation of Artyomovsk.

Bakhmut, known for decades as Artyomovsk and still referred to as such in Russia, has been a focus of bloody fighting for months due to its importance in supplying Ukrainian troops in Donbas.

Russia has been conducting a special military operation in Ukraine since February 24, claiming that the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics needed help in view of what they denounced as genocide by Ukraine.

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