WASHINGTON, Mar 15Vladimir Zelensky must decide for himself how to deal with Artyomovsk, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin said. it doesn’t matter for his forces whether they need to be moved or left in Bakhmut (Artemovsk. — Approx. ed.),” he said at a press conference.
The head of the Pentagon also stressed that the loss of the city would not mean a defeat for Ukraine in the conflict with Russia. In this case, it is most likely a regrouping to maintain an advantage, Austin suggested.
The day before, Zelensky's office reported that after a meeting of the headquarters of the Supreme Commander, it was decided to continue to hold Artemivsk. At the same time, the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian troops, Valery Zaluzhny, called the defense of the city a key element in holding the entire front by the republic.
On Monday, the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, Alexander Syrsky, said that the situation on the line of contact in the Artemivsk area «remains difficult.»
According to the latest data, Russian forces have cut or taken control of slush seriously impedes the delivery of ammunition and personnel of the Ukrainian troops.
Artemivsk is located in the part of the DPR controlled by Kiev, north of the large city of Gorlovka. This is an important transport hub for supplying the Ukrainian group of troops in the Donbass. Fierce battles are going on outside the city.
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