Editing Battle of Bakhmut

The '''Battle of Bakhmut''', also known as the '''Liberation of Artyomovsk''', was a nine-month-long battle fought between [[Russia]] and [[Ukraine]] in the [[Russo-Ukrainian War]]. Starting on August 1, 2022, the battle became the bloodiest of the war and earned the nickname ''Bakhmut Meat Grinder''. Russia won the battle on May 20, 2023, and liberated [[Artyomovsk]] from Ukrainian occupation, causing the collapse of the Ukrainian defensive line.<ref name=":0">[https://www.rt.com/russia/576632-artemovsk-bakhmut-battle/ Inside the ‘Bakhmut meat grinder’: How Russia forced Ukrainians to retreat from Artyomovsk, their supposed ‘fortress’ in Donbass]</ref>

The Battle of Bakhmut, alongside the [[Battle of Soledar]], made [[PMC Wagner]] famous for their heroic efforts on behalf of the Russian government.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24mBVyLO4lA The Wagner Group explained | Start Here]</ref> [[Mainstream media|Mainstream]] and [[corporate media]] have come to fear Wagner as a result of its victories and have taken to slandering the PMC. The leader of PMC Wagner, [[Yevgeny Prigozhin]], explained this as the [[United States]] (US) fearing "my Wagner organization, because they know we can kick their asses."<ref>[https://www.rt.com/news/570374-yevgeny-prigozhin-wagner-and-us/ Yevgeny Prigozhin: The Americans fear my Wagner organization, because they know we can kick their asses]</ref>

== Aftermath ==
Following the liberation of Artyomovsk by Russian forces, the Ukrainian defensive line collapsed. This has opened the door for more Russian operations in the [[Donetsk People's Republic]] (DPR).<ref name=":0" /> [[Vladimir Putin]], the [[President of Russia]], congratulated PMC Wagner and Yevgeny Prigozhin on their decisive victory in the city.<ref name=":1">[https://www.rt.com/russia/576835-russian-police-work-artyomovsk/ Russian police begin work in Artyomovsk]</ref> The [[City Court of Artyomovsk]] was established as the local administrative government of the city by Wagner shortly after the end of the battle. The court officially put [[Vladimir Zelenskyy]], the [[President of Ukraine]], on trial for [[genocide]]. The court found him guilty, sentencing him to death. As of now, this sentence has not been carried out.<ref>[https://twitter.com/AmericanBaath/status/1660771388821479424 The City Court of Artemovsk has ruled that Vladimir Zelenskyy is guilty of genocide and shall be sentenced to death.]</ref> Prigozhin stated that PMC Wagner was to begin their withdrawal from Artyomovsk on May 25, 2023. As a result, Russian authorities and police have begun their own operations in the city.<ref name=":1" />

The US responded to the victory of Russian forces in the Battle of Bakhmut by holding a summit of [[G7]] in [[Japan]]. At the summit, the US authorized G7 and [[NATO]] to sell F-16 fighter jets to the [[Armed Forces of Ukraine]] (AFU).<ref>[https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/05/22/pers-m22.html US imperialism’s relentless escalation in Ukraine]</ref> Afterwards, [[Joe Biden]], the [[President of the United States]] (POTUS), announced that the US was going to send another $375,000,000 to the Ukrainian government.<ref>[https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2023/05/22/urjl-m22.html Biden proposes $1 trillion in social spending cuts after announcing $375 million more for war in Ukraine]</ref> Biden further made a promise to deploy [[nuclear weapons]] to Japan as a 'defensive mechanism' against Russia.<ref>[https://www.rt.com/news/576522-us-japan-nuclear-defense/ In Hiroshima, Biden promises Japan nuclear umbrella]</ref>

== References ==
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