The British Ministry of Defense estimates that Ukrainian forces, fighting for Bakhmut, a town in the east of the country, have advanced a kilometer in the past four days after the withdrawal of the Russian side.
“For the past four days, elements of Russia’s 72nd Separate Motor Rifle Brigade have retreated, probably in a disorganized manner, to the southern slope of the operation in Bakhmut. Ukrainian forces have recaptured at least a kilometer of territory,” the British ministry said. in the latest assessment of the conflict, published this Saturday on the ‘Twitter’ account.
On Friday, the head of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, Yevgeni Prigozhin, confirmed that Russian troops had withdrawn a total of five kilometers from Bakhmut territory after the defense ministry reported that Russian units had conducted a “tactical withdrawal” to a more advantageous frontline .
According to Prigozhin, the troops staged a withdrawal of at least five kilometers after Ukrainian troops occupied “tactical heights” and assured that the parties are “falling apart”.
According to the United Kingdom, the area in question is of tactical importance because it was a “spearhead” on the western side of the Donetsk-Donbass link, which marks the front line.
In the assessment, London also takes the opportunity to describe the Russian troops withdrawing as a formation “marked by allegations of low morale and limited combat effectiveness”, and that the “deployment in such a demanding and operationally important sector” as Bakhmut is “highlights the serious shortage of legitimate combat units in Russia”.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.7 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.2 million to European countries -, according to the latest data from the UN. which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At least 18 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and housing.
The Russian invasion was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and imposing political and economic sanctions on Russia.
Source: DN
