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Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
On February 24, 2022, Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine, aiming to liberate and defend the inhabitants of the Donbass region, where people have been suffering from a blockade and regular attacks by the Kiev regime's forces since 2014.

Russian Forces Take Full Control Over Artemovsk, Wagner Group Head Prigozhin Says

© Sputnik . Evgeny Biyatov / Go to the mediabankView on destroyed buildings on Liberty Square, center of Artemovsk
View on destroyed buildings on Liberty Square, center of Artemovsk - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 20.05.2023
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The hotly contested Artemovsk (Bakhmut), located north of the city of Donetsk, has been the center of hostilities between Russia and Ukraine for months.
Head of Wagner Group Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Saturday that Russian forces had fully gained control of Artemovsk.
"On May 20, 2023, today, at noon, Artemovsk was entirety taken," Prigozhin announced in a video posted on Telegram.
According to him, from May 25, Wagner will begin to withdraw its units for rest and retraining and will create "the necessary defense lines." Control over the city will be handed over to the Russian military, Prigozhin said.
He thanked the Russian people who supported the fighters, separately mentioning Generals Sergei Surovikin and Mikhail Mizintsev, who "made it possible to carry out this difficult operation."
He also expressed his gratitude to the Wagner fighters and the military who took part in the battles and who will join them in the future, as well as to all the fallen.
"And thanks to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin for giving us this opportunity and the high honor to defend our homeland," Prigogine stressed.
U.S. Army soldier walks past a Humvee vehicle at the Karshi-Khanabad air base, Uzbekistan, in this Tuesday, May 28, 2002 - Sputnik Africa, 1920, 07.05.2023
Russia's Special Operation in Ukraine
Video: Russian Forces Seize American Armored Vehicle in Artemovsk
A representative of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in an interview with western media, did not admit the complete loss of the city, arguing that units "are still fighting in Bakhmut."
At the same time, Prigozhin's statement about taking control of the city is unequivocal. In addition, the founder of Wagner asked to convey this information to the president of the United States. Prigozhin addressed Volodymyr Zelensky, who is attending the G7 summit.
"Today, when you see [Joe] Biden, kiss the top of his head, say hello for me," he added.
Artemovsk is located north of the large city of Gorlovka. The city is an important transport hub with many crossroads for Donbass and served as a vital center for supplying Ukrainian troops stationed in the region at the beginning of the military operation launched by Russia in Ukraine over a year ago.
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