MOSCOW – Small groups of Ukrainian troops are trying to escape from Artemivsk or surrender, Yang Gagin, adviser to the acting head of the DPR, said on the Rossiya 1 TV channel.

“The enemy suffers colossal losses every day, he is driven out to the western outskirts, where there is practically no supply of ammunition, the roads are shot through by our artillery. This also applies to the rotation of military personnel and the removal of the wounded. The Ukrainian garrison is practically doomed. Now there are precedents when they flee in small groups.. . There are those who surrender, who are trying to escape from the city,” he said.

Gagin recalled that now about 90 percent of the territory of Artemovsk is under the control of Russian forces. At the same time, it is still impossible to talk about a systemic retreat of the Armed Forces of Ukraine , the adviser to the acting head of the republic added.

As for the degree of destruction of the city, then, according to the official, it will be possible to estimate this percentage only after its complete liberation. The Ukrainian army, retreating, deliberately destroys the infrastructure, he stressed.Artemovsk is located north of Gorlovka . 

This is an important transport hub for supplying the Ukrainian group in the Donbass. Fierce battles have been going on for the settlement for more than six months.The day before, the Ministry of Defense stated that the assault squads continue to take control of quarters in the northwest, in the center and in the southwest of the city, and airborne units blocked it from the northern and southern outskirts. The daily losses of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in this direction amount to hundreds of soldiers.

Source: RIA Novosti