This is reported by the Washington Post, citing secret US intelligence documents that have fallen into the network.
It is noted that the assessments of the United States were gloomy already in January.
"Washington warned of a potential encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Artyomovsk and offered Kiev to reduce its losses and leave the city," the article says.
Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the Airborne Forces and artillery of Russia thwarted attempts by the Armed Forces of Ukraine to counterattack and transfer reserves in the Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) area.
Adviser to the acting head of the DPR, Yan Gagin, spoke about the attempts of the military of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to leave Artyomovsk (Bakhmut) in the DPR in small groups or surrender.