MOSCOW, January 31. /TASS/. Russia’s takeover of the cities of Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine) and Ugledar will be a serious loss for the Ukrainian army and will open the door for Russian forces to maneuver in several directions, acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said on Tuesday.
"After the liberation of Artyomovsk, the direction towards Kramatorsk and Slavyansk opens up. And, naturally, it will be a serious loss for the enemy in terms of holding their positions. The loss of Ugledar will be no less serious for them as it will open a path to advance to Kurakhovo, Maryinka and Krasnoarmeisk," he said in an interview with the Komsomolskaya Pravda radio station.
He also explained the importance of taking control of the city of Avdeyevka. "As for Avdeyevka, they understand perfectly well that they lose the opportunity to shell our large settlements: Donetsk’s Kievsky and Kuibyshevsky districts, Yasinvataya. They will resist and we can see this because when the enemy doesn’t care about losses in manpower, everything is clear. There is nothing we can do but move forward," he noted.
Russian forces have been fighting for control of Artyomovsk in recent months. Taking control of the city will make it possible for Russian forces to stage an offensive toward the DPR’s northern areas, Pushilin said earlier, adding that Ugledar is a major logistics hub providing supplies for Ukrainian units along the Maryinka direction, where shelling attacks on Donetsk are staged from.