Russian officials announce renaming of city Bakhmut

Donetsk officials visiting Bakhmut after Russian forces took control said the city would be renamed back to its Soviet-era name of Artemovsk.

"Bakhmut is a name from the Russian Empire, then it was renamed Artemovsk during the Soviet Union," Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Russian-appointed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR), said on May 23 while visiting the city captured by Russian forces. "Now Ukraine no longer holds Bakhmut, but Russia. The city is no longer called Bakhmut, but Artemovsk."

Video footage showed Pushilin planting the DPR flag on top of a ruined building in Bakhmut, surrounded by members of the Russian private military group Wagner. The DPR leader then toured streets that had been almost completely destroyed by months of fighting between Russia and Ukraine.

Russia announces Bakhmut's return to its old name — Russian-appointed acting leader of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin in Bakhmut on May 23. Video: *Telegram/* *pushilindenis*

Pushilin said he was in Bakhmut to assess the work to restore civil services in the city. He affirmed that the local government would rebuild Bakhmut, pledging to build new houses, offices and schools there.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 21 that its forces had taken full control of the city of Bakhmut after Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, made a similar statement. However, Ukrainian officials denied the information and affirmed that their forces continued to fight in Bakhmut despite the difficult situation.

[Caption] Pushilin — Russian-appointed leader of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin (left) with Wagner members in Bakhmut on May 23. Photo: *RIA Novosti*

The city was called Bakhmut in the 16th century, which means "salt water" or "beach" in Tatar. In 1924, the Soviet Union renamed Bakhmut Artemovsk in honor of revolutionary leader Fyodor Sergeyev, who was also known as Comrade Artem.

In April 2014, pro-Russian separatists in Donetsk declared control of Artemovsk, but Ukrainian government forces recaptured the city three months later and Kiev decided to rename the city Bakhmut in 2016. Bakhmut covers an area of about 41.6 square kilometers and was home to more than 71,000 people before the war.

After Russia launched the second phase of its campaign in Ukraine in April 2022, Bakhmut became the focus of fighting in Donetsk, as both sides focused their efforts on controlling the city.

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

Meanwhile, Russia considers Bakhmut to be an important defense center for Ukraine in the Donbass region, and controlling the city would allow them to attack deeper into enemy lines.