Russian authorities announced the renaming of the city of Bakhmut

The Donetsk official, who visited Bakhmut after it was taken by Russian forces, said the city would be renamed back to its former Soviet name, Artemovsk.

“Bakhmut is a period name of the Russian Empire, which was later renamed Artemovsk under the Soviet Union,” said Russia-appointed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Acting Leader Denis Pushilin on May 23 while visiting the city. just captured. “Now Ukraine no longer holds Bakhmut, but Russia. The city is no longer Bakhmut, but Artemovsk.”

The published video shows Pushilin planting the DPR flag on the roof of a dilapidated building in Bakhmut, surrounded by members of the Russian private military group Wagner. The DPR leader then walked through streets almost completely destroyed after months of fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia announced the transfer of Bakhmut to the old name

Russian-appointed acting leader of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin in Bakhmut on May 23. Video: Telegram/pushlindenis

Pushilin said he went to Bakhmut to assess the restoration of public services in the city. He confirmed that the local government will rebuild Bakhmut, pledging to build new houses, headquarters and schools here.

Russia’s Ministry of Defense announced on May 21 that its forces had taken full control of the city of Bakhmut after Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin made a similar statement. However, Ukrainian authorities denied the information and confirmed that Ukrainian forces continued fighting in Bakhmut despite the very difficult situation.

Russian-appointed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) acting leader Denis Pushilin (left) with member Wagner in Bakhmut on May 23. Photo: RIA Novosti

The city has been called Bakhmut since the 16th century, which in Tatar means “salt water” or “beach”. In 1924, the Soviet Union renamed Bakhmut to Artemovsk in honor of revolutionary leader Fyodor Sergeyev, who was also nicknamed Comrade Artem.

In April 2014, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk claimed control of Artemovsk, but Ukrainian government troops retook the city three months later and Kiev decided to rename the city Bakhmut from 2016 onwards. .6 square kilometers and is home to more than 71,000 people before the war.

After Russia launched the second phase of operations in Ukraine from April 2022, Bakhmut became the focus of the fighting in Donetsk, as both sides focused on control of the city.

Ukrainian military officials and commanders have said defending Bakhmut is “militarily necessary” and see the city as the key to containing Russian forces in the Donbass region and preventing them from advancing further west.

Meanwhile, Russia considers Bakhmut an important defense center for Ukraine in the Donbass region, control of the city will allow them to penetrate deeper into enemy lines.