Russian Forces Control 95% of Artemivsk, Says Prigozhin

The Wagner private military company has fully accomplished its tasks in Artemivsk (Ukrainian name: Bakhmut), stated the company's founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin. His remarks were quoted by his press service.

Prigozhin noted that the main goal of the Bakhmut meat grinder operation was not simply to capture the city, but to "deplete the units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces" and to "organize rest for the Russian army to restore combat readiness." He also mentioned that Russian forces control 95% of Artemivsk, and the remaining 5% “play no significant role.”

Earlier this week, Prigozhin warned that Wagner forces would leave the city on May 10, stating, “without ammunition, they are doomed to meaningless death.” In response, Chechnya's leader Ramzan Kadyrov declared that Chechen special forces are ready to “take back the city.” He indicated that a strategy for operations in Artemivsk is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense, taking into account the tactics and resources of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.