Russian troops driven out of houses on Bakhmut outskirts 

This was stated by Andriy Kryshchenko, former chief of the Kyiv police, former deputy head of the Kyiv City State Administration, current lieutenant colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine and who is fighting for Bakhmut. He shared the information in an interview with CensorNET on December 25, 2022.

"The enemy gained some achievements, they entered the houses on Bakhmut’s outskirts, but a few days ago they were driven out of there," he said.

"That part of Bakhmut, near Popasna and Opytne, is badly destroyed, particularly the private sector and outskirts," added Kryshchenko.

He assesses Bakhmut as a strategically important town.

"It has a road crossing and elevations beyond Bakhmut that are important for them. If they capture Bakhmut, then our troops may have to leave Soledar and Siversk, which are to the north of the town," explained Andriy Kryshchenko.

He serves in Bakhmut as a member of the 4th Rapid Response Brigade of the National Guard, created in accordance with NATO standards under the chairmanship of Ukraine’s Interior Minister (2014-2021) Arsen Avakov. He is a member of the battalion tactical group of Svoboda volunteer military formation.