Russia claims to have captured a village in the Donetsk region of Ukraine

Russian forces captured Bakhmut this May after one of the bloodiest battles of the more than 21-month long war.

“Soldiers supported by aviation and artillery fire improved their positions along the front line and liberated the village of Artyomovskoye,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement, using the Russian version of the village’s previous name.

Ukraine has not yet commented on this statement by Moscow.

The AFP news agency cannot independently confirm this.

According to satellite images, the village of Chromovë, located on the western outskirts of Bakhmut, consisted of a few streets and a few dozen houses before the Russian attack.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu claimed that the capture of Bakhmut would allow Moscow’s troops to continue their massive advance.

However, Russian forces have not advanced from the city, which independent military analysts say has little strategic importance.

Bachmut and its suburbs were completely destroyed by months of incessant artillery fire and battles.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose Wagner mercenaries led the Russian offensive at Bachmut, said 20,000 died in that campaign. his fighters.

Last year, Russia announced the annexation of Donetsk – along with three other areas of eastern and southern Ukraine – although it has never fully controlled any of these regions.