Moscow, Mar 15 (Prensa Latina) Russian forces today took control of the Zaliznyanskoye settlement and are expanding the encirclement of Artiomovsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, the head of the Wagner military company, Evgueni Prigozhin, said.
‘Wagner assault detachments are expanding the encirclement of Artiomovsk (Bakhmut for Ukrainians), after they liberated the small locality of Zaliznianskoye on Wednesday,’ Prigozhin reported on his Telegram channel.
Artiomovsk is located in the part of the Donetsk People’s Republic controlled by Kiev and is an important transport center for supplying Ukrainian troops in Donbas.
Over this important communications junction fierce battles have been raging since the summer of last year. On March 11, Prigozhin reported that Russian forces were 1.2 km from the administrative center of Artiomovsk, dominating all the surrounding heights.
In the city there are, according to intelligence estimates, between 10,000 and 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, who are in danger of being encircled by Russian units.
in case anyone was wondering why this tiny village is significant: north of it there is a relatively large set of fields with no roads, which offers no cover and isn’t ideal at all to move heavy equipment through.
Ukraine was ammassing forces in that area to strike the at the northern part of the northern salient created by Wagner forces, moving south towards the city in an attempt to either reach Artemovsk and encircle Wagner’s northern tactical group or at least force them to flee.
Zaliznyanskoye offered the hohols a place to ammass forces in preparation for such strike where they would have cover and thus time to prepare.
By securing the settlement, Wagner secured the northern edge of the salient they built. Which means that ukrainian hopes to free the city from the north are gone. This frees up several forces to contribute to what looks like Wagner’s new plan - to strike directly at Chasiv Yar before the Artemovsk garrison manages to retreat (if the cocaine comedian ever allows them to).
Which is also why you see pro-ukr media playing the “lol russia conquered a shed” card to downplay the importance of the development.
Thank you for adding more context!