MOSCOW, January 20. /TASS/. Russian forces liberated the community of Kleshcheyevka near Artyomovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Friday.

"In the Donetsk direction, volunteers of assault teams supported by operational-tactical and army aviation aircraft, missile troops and artillery of the Southern Military District liberated the settlement of Kleshcheyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic," the spokesman said.

Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) military expert Colonel Vitaly Kiselyov earlier said that control of the village of Kleshcheyevka located south of Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine) held strategic importance for Russian troops to develop their offensive on that city.