The Russian offensive in the Donetsk region is progressing in small steps. According to British intelligence, Moscow forces are penetrating two suburbs of the city of Bakhmut. In addition to pro-Russian separatists, the Wagner mercenary group is said to be in action.
Russian troops appear to be making progress in their attack on the town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The British Ministry of Defense said, citing intelligence, that separatist units had advanced into the villages of Opytne and Ivanhrad south of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The Wagner mercenary group was also involved in the fighting. Forces led by Wagner recently gained ground in the Donbass. However, the Russians had hardly conquered any settlements since the beginning of July, it was said in London.
Yesterday, pro-Russian separatists reported the capture of the two settlements. A group of soldiers from the so-called People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk had taken the villages "with fire support from the Russian armed forces," they explained on Telegram.
Opytne and Ivanhrad are about six kilometers from the center of Bakhmut. The city is an important transport hub. Russia is likely to use a capture as a prelude to an attack on the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area, the main Ukrainian-controlled population center in Donetsk Oblast, the British ministry said. The complete conquest of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the Donbass was long considered the most important war goal of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia is continuing its offensive in the Donbass and is slowly making progress, it said in London. However, the Russian troops on their flanks are under considerable pressure from the Ukrainian armed forces and are also suffering from shortages of ammunition and personnel.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.
