Russia to cease artillery fire in Artyomovsk during US media trip, says Wagner founder

Russian forces will cease artillery fire in Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine) during a trip by US reporters whom the Ukrainian military is bringing to the city, Wagner private military company founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a statement uploaded on his press office’s Telegram channel on Thursday.

"We were at the headquarters dealing with combat operations when information came that Tserber, commander of the Ukrainian army’s 57th brigade, was bringing American journalists to Bakhmut. A decision was made to cease artillery fire so that American reporters could calmly make footage of Bakhmut and leave home. The media is a sacred thing. They are also a sort of military reporters," Prigozhin said.

The Wagner founder, however, warned the Ukrainian military against attempts to bring reserves to Artyomovsk under the cover of US journalists. "Tserber, get hello from our guys but do not bring in reserves," Prigozhin said, pledging to thwart such attempts, if they took place...[TASS]