Donetsk, May 25 — DAN. The “Wagner” private military company has begun to withdraw its units from the liberated town of Artyomovsk to the rear, PMC Head Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Thursday.
“The main body will relocate to camps in the rear from May 25 to June 1, ” Prigozhin said in an audio message disseminated by his press service. “We’re handing over our positions, munitions and dry rations to the military, but if things become difficult for the military, we’ll certainly leave behind those who played the key role.”
Artyomovsk is a large district center and fortified area of the Ukrainian army north of Gorlovka. Ukrainian forces occupied the town in 2014. The clashes for Artyomovsk began in the autumn of 2022 as part of the special military operation. It was liberated from Ukrainian troops on May 20, 2023.*jk