Ukrainian troops offer serious resistance near Artyomovsk — DPR official

The Ukrainian army’s resistance in the vicinity of Artyomovsk is persistent, however, on the frontline, the newly called-up forces are mostly being engaged, military-political expert Yan Gagin, adviser to the DPR leader, told TASS on Monday.

"Of course, they are not sitting on their hands there. Above all, the adversary is keeping the mobilized ones on the frontline. They are calling [people] up constantly, because, in the opinion of the Kiev command, the mobilized can be spared. Only then they engage the career military and mercenaries," he said.

That said, the official noted that lately, even artillery attacks on Donetsk, the DPR’s capital, have been less intensive than before. "The Ukrainian army lacks ammunition, and we have indeed destroyed a large amount of artillery, including American M777 howitzers and MLRS. And the adversary had to move the substantial part of artillery precisely to Artyomovsk and Ugledar, these are the two hottest fronts now," he added.