Donetsk, Apr 10 — DAN. The town of Artyomovsk in the north of the Donetsk People’s Republic will be rebuilt after its liberation, DPR Acting Head Denis Pushilin said in the course of his trip to Artyomovsk on Monday.
“The town will be rebuilt, ” Pushilin said in his video on Telegram. “There’s an understanding that Artyomovsk will be restored and renewed. The experience of Mariupol where the work is humming shows that the town, when rebuilt, is even better (than the old one).”
A “Wagner” private military company fighter who accompanied Pushilin said that there was not a single undamaged building left in Artyomovsk. “Wagner” fighters continue to evacuate civilians using stretchers to carry seriously ill people. They can evacuate 15 to 45 people at a time amid Ukrainian gunmen’s countermeasures.
Pushilin presented military decorations to “Wagner” servicemen noting their exemplary courage.
Artyomovsk is a large district center and fortified area of the Ukrainian army north of Gorlovka. Ukrainian forces occupied the town in 2014. The prewar Artyomovsk had machine building, metallurgical and construction companies. The Artyomovsk Champagne Wines Factory is one of the largest in Eastern Europe.
Fierce fighting for the town has continued for several months. Western military experts and politicians said Ukrainian army manpower losses had run into thousands. Meanwhile, Kiev is amassing reserves in the town in the attempt to hold it. Reports on April 3 said that the “Wagner” Group had hoisted Russian flags above Artyomovsk Town Hall. The Ukrainian army retreated to the western part of the town. Fighting is taking place for the railway station.*jk