(Dan Tri) – Donetsk officials announced that Bakhmut will be changed back to its old Soviet-era name `Artemovsk`, after Russian forces declared control of the city.

Acting leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin (Photo: Getty).

`Bakhmut is a name from the Russian Empire. But under the Soviet Union, this city was called Artyomovsk,` Mr. Denis Pushilin, acting leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR), said during a visit to the city.

`Ukraine now no longer controls Bakhmut, but Russia. This city is no longer Bakhmut, but Artemovsk,` Mr. Pushilin said in a video posted on Telegram.

The video shows Mr. Pushilin walking on the heavily damaged streets of Bakhmut and planting a DPR flag on the roof of a building.

In the video, Mr. Pushilin also claimed that controlling Bakhmut would open a path for Russian forces to make further advances in Ukraine.

He also pledged that Bakhmut `will be rebuilt`, promising new homes, workplaces and schools will spring up in the ruined city.

Previously, Mr. Pushilin announced that demining activities were underway in Bakhmut city.

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on May 20 that Russian forces took complete control of the city of Bakhmut during a special military operation in Ukraine.

Boss Wagner said this force will withdraw from Bakhmut from May 25 to June 1.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s officials have so far denied the news of Bakhmut’s fall.

Eastern Ukraine Operational Command spokesman Serhiy Cherevaty admitted the situation in Bakhmut was `extremely difficult`, but they still controlled `several buildings` and fortifications in the southwest of the city.

Mr. Oleksiy Danilov, Ukraine’s national security advisor, also confirmed that part of Bakhmut city is still under Ukrainian control.

`If Russia claims they have captured Bakhmut, I can say that it is not true. As of today, part of Bakhmut is still under our control. I cannot confirm the whole thing, but some