Bakhmut
 Bakhmut    | |
|---|---|
The founder of Russia's most high-profile mercenary group said on Saturday 7 January 2023 he wanted his forces and the regular Russian army to capture the small city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine because it possessed "underground cities" that can hold troops and tanks.[1]
Yevgeny Prigozhin, founder of Russia's Wagner Mercenary Group which is fighting in the Battle of Bakhmut, set out in detail why he thought its capture would be significant:
- "The cherry on the cake is the system of Soledar and Bakhmut mines, which is actually a network of underground cities. It not only (has the ability to hold) a big group of people at a depth of 80-100 metres, but tanks and infantry fighting vehicles can also move about."[2]
Bakhmut, which Russia calls Artyomovsk or Artemivsk, is the focus of the most intense fighting in Ukraine, and Prigozhin made his comments as another Telegram channel associated with Wagner claimed Russia had captured a strategically-important settlement.[3]
In May 2023, Russia reported that Artemivsk is fully under its control.[4]
