"An event of historical scale. And the emotions are the same as those our grandfathers had in Berlin"

What Russian federal TV channels are reporting about the battles for Bakhmut

Russian federal TV channels began their morning news broadcasts on May 21 with stories about the fighting in Bakhmut, announcing that the city had completely come under the control of Russian troops. The stories aired after the Russian Defense Ministry announced this. On May 20, the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced the capture of Bakhmut, but at that time, nothing was reported on Russian TV. The Ukrainian Armed Forces Command and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insist that the fighting for Bakhmut continues. Meduza briefly recounts the stories of Russian TV propaganda.

Channel One. Newscast from 12:00

Artemovsk has been liberated. An event of historic proportions. An important strategic point and a great tactical success for our forces. Those who distinguished themselves will be presented with high awards. Vladimir Putin congratulated the soldiers. The myth that Artemovsk is an impregnable fortress has been destroyed. The mission is accomplished.

Without exaggeration, it was a historic moment. It took seven and a half months to liberate. The stormtroopers themselves were most eager for the end of the operation. Many could have left after their contract ended, but every single one of them stayed.

[Wagner PMC fighters] Victory! Bakhmut is ours! Probably the same emotions as our grandfathers had in Berlin. We are here defending our homeland. We are doing a good deed. We are fighting neo-fascism.

Russia 1. The Vesti program from 11:00

As a result of the offensive actions of the assault units with the support of artillery and aviation of the "Southern" group of troops, Artemovsk came under the complete control of Russian forces. Vladimir Putin congratulated all those involved in the operation to liberate the strategically important settlement.

Our fighters will never let the enemy or enemy equipment near their borders. Here is a T-72, a Ukrainian tank, it was burned on the approaches to our borders. There is a cross on it - a symbol of Nazism, which our fighters courageously fight against.

Artemovsk is of operational importance. Its capture opens the direct and shortest route to Dnepropetrovsk . The battle for Bakhmut ended in defeat for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

NTV. Today program release from 10:00

Artemovsk, which the Kiev regime calls Bakhmut, has been liberated. The last neo-Nazi formations have been driven out of the city. The Wagner assault units, supported by artillery and aviation of the Southern Group of Forces, have achieved a key victory. Vladimir Putin congratulated the military on the liberation of Artemovsk.

This city is a key strategic point and a logistics center. Highways and railways lead from it. Its capture opens the way to Slavyansk and Kramatorsk, where the most important strongholds of Ukrainian militants are located. It was through Artemovsk that the Kiev regime supplied its militant groups in Donbas.

It is noteworthy that exactly one year ago Mariupol was liberated from neo-Nazis.