Ukrainian army units begin leaving Artyomovsk, Bakhmut

 The basic Ukrainian army units stationed in Artyomovsk (called Bakhmut in Ukraine) began leaving the city at night and the Russia-Donbass allied forces are preparing to enter the area, a representative of the people’s militia of the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) told TASS on Friday.

"According to the data at our disposal received from local residents, the basic Ukrainian army units began to leave Artyomovsk last night. The allied forces are preparing to enter the city," the representative said.

LPR people’s militia officer Andrey Marochko said earlier on Friday that about 200 militants, including foreign mercenaries and radicals, were delivered to the Artyomovsk area as part of a Ukrainian company tactical group.