Ukrainian troops have reportedly been forced to withdraw from parts of Bakhmut due to an intensified Russian assault on the devastated city. British authorities claim that Moscow aims to secure a victory in the region before an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukrainian officials report that Russia has been redirecting troops from other frontlines to concentrate on Bakhmut, which they have been attempting to capture for nine months to revitalize their large-scale invasion initiated over a year ago.
Past reports have highlighted discord between Russia's defense ministry (MoD) and the Wagner Group, its primary mercenary force, as a significant Russian vulnerability. However, Britain's military announced in a daily briefing note that "Russia has re-energized its assault on the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut as forces of the Russian MoD and Wagner Group have improved cooperation."
Despite facing considerable resupply challenges, Ukrainian forces have made "orderly withdrawals" from positions they were compelled to abandon. Near Bakhmut, Ukrainian artillery soldiers targeted Russian infantry, which had amassed near the frontline. Dmytro, the commander of the artillery unit, stated, "Our target in that direction is mostly infantry. There is a big concentration of the Russian Federation's 'human factor'."
Bakhmut, with a pre-war population of approximately 70,000, has been the primary focus of Russia's extensive winter offensive. The campaign has seen little success despite intense infantry combat reminiscent of World War II. According to Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar, Russian commanders have redirected troops to Bakhmut from other areas, employing their most skilled units and relying heavily on artillery and aviation.
The British update revealed that Ukrainian forces continue to control the town's western districts but have faced particularly intense Russian artillery fire in the past 48 hours. Wagner mercenaries are now concentrating on advancing in central Bakhmut, while Russian paratroopers replace them in attacks on the city's outskirts.
The Institute for the Study of War think tank analyzed geolocated footage, which suggested that Russian forces made "marginal advances" in the south and southwest of the city and pushed further west into central Bakhmut. Capturing the city would represent Russia's first significant victory in eight months and potentially open a path to seize more territory in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
Despite a massive Russian offensive, frontlines have remained mostly unchanged over the last five months. As Moscow employs hundreds of thousands of conscripted reservists and thousands of jail-recruited mercenaries, Kyiv has primarily focused on defending its lines and awaits new Western arms for a forthcoming counteroffensive.
"We are readying our boys," said President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in a recent video address. "We look forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. We are bringing victory closer as much as possible."
