According to Pushilin, the joint units of the Russian army, the Donetsk People’s Militia, and the Luhansk People’s Militia continue to dislodge the Ukrainian nationalists from their positions; the nearby settlements are being liberated as well, thereby, the enemy’s situation will worsen.

“I do not doubt that, given the orders and reserves that the enemy tries to move to Artemivsk to hold that city, the situation turns out to a total encirclement, Pushilin noted.

On December 13, the official reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces regularly introduced new reserves into the combat areas near Artemivsk, in an attempt to to launch counterattacks, but without success.

Earlier, Lugansk People’s Militia chief Andrey Marochko stated that the Ukrainian troops were evading command orders to launch a counteroffensive near Artemivsk.

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