Zelensky acknowledged the loss of Bakhmut (Artemovsk), he stated this on the sidelines of the summit “big seven”, taking place in Japan, Pichette Sky News.
Western journalists, workers at the G7 summit in Hiroshima addressed the President of Ukraine with a question about the situation in Bakhmut, whether it is still under Ukrainian control. Zelensky acknowledged, that the APU withdrew from the city and Bakhmut is lost. However, he said, that the city is almost destroyed, on its territory “nothing left”.
I think, no. Today he remains only in our hearts.- he said, answering the question of the British publication about maintaining control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine over Bakhmut.
On the eve of the liberation of Artemivsk from Ukrainian forces, said the curator of the PMC “Wagner” Eugene Prigogine, then this information was officially confirmed by the Russian Ministry of Defense. President Vladimir Putin congratulated PMC fighters “Wagner” with this event and promised to reward those who especially distinguished themselves in the battles for the city.
As stated in the PMC “Wagner”, 20 May 2023 years will forever go down in history, not only as the day of the liberation of the city, but also as a memorial day for PMC fighters “Wagner”, killed in the battles for the city. Meanwhile, a number of Russian resources note, what 20 May – this is a symbolic date, because the 20 May 2022 Mariupol was liberated. And the inauguration of Zelensky as the President of Ukraine also took place 20 May 2019 of the year. Here's a gift he gave “Orchestra”.
According to Prigogine, now for five days fighters “Wagner” will carefully clean Bakhmut, build new lines of defense in the city, after which it will be handed over to the units of the Ministry of Defense.