MOSCOW, February 1. /TASS/. Russian forces have almost surrounded the city of Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine) from three sides, Colonel Vitaly Kiselyov, a military expert from the Lugansk People’s Republic, said on Wednesday.

"Artyomovsk is almost ‘embraced’ from three sides, active efforts are underway to drive the enemy out," he told the Soloviev Live TV channel.

Heavy fighting continues in the Artyomovsk area. Acting Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin said earlier that Russian troops were working to cut off Ukrainian supply routes and fighting was raging in the city’s neighborhoods that used to be controlled by the Ukrainian army.