Europe News Desk!!! Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on Tuesday that Russian troops were continuing their efforts to take control of the city of Artyomovsk (Bakhmut in Ukrainian). It has seen frequent fighting in recent days, as it is an important defense center for the Ukrainian military in Donbass. Taking control of Artyomovsk would allow Ukraine’s armed forces to take more offensive actions in defence, he said, according to RT. As well as being a stronghold for Ukraine’s military since the start of fighting in the Donbass in 2014, Artyomovsk is part of a 70-kilometer-long defense line built by Kiev. In a month-long campaign Russian forces systematically occupied settlements around the city and surrounded Artyomovsk from the north, south and east.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky repeatedly insisted he would not surrender the city, with his Western backers and military advisers reportedly urging him to cut his losses and withdraw. Shoigu also said that Russian forces had captured the settlements of Nikolayevka, Dvurchno, Krasnaya Gora, Gyarnikovka and Paraskoviyevka, and that the American strategy of breaking up Russia by force of arms had failed. Western countries, he said, are increasing supplies of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, expanding training programs for Ukrainian army personnel.
At the same time, Shoigu said, the support of the Kiev regime by NATO countries is not leading to the success of the Ukrainian troops on the battlefield. Given that, the losses of Kiev increased significantly. According to the minister, in February alone the number of casualties of the Armed Forces of Ukraine increased by more than 40 percent compared to January and the figure exceeded 11,000. The indifference of the Kiev regime to its people in this regard is surprising, Shoigu said. Russia’s priority, he stressed, is the protection of life and health of personnel and citizens.
–IANS
SGK/ANM
World News Desk!!