Ukrainian forces made gains in localized counterattacks, advanced northwest of Bakhmut - ISW

13.05.2023 12:00

Ukrinform

The Armed Forces of Ukraine achieved success northwest of Bakhmut in localized counterattacks, as evidenced by the emerged footage showing the retreat of Russian troops on the southern bank of the Berkhivske Reservoir.

This is said in a new report released by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), according to Ukrinform.

“This footage visually confirms claims made by a number of Russian milbloggers that Ukrainian forces made gains northwest of Bakhmut in the area between Bohdanivka and Berkhivka,” the report says.

As ISW notes, according to Russian military bloggers, elements of the 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (14th Army Corps, Northern Fleet) lost their positions in the area between Hryhorivka and Dubovo-Vasylivka (about 6km northwest of Bakhmut). In addition, Ukrainian troops are counterattacking towards Khromove, Bohdanivka, and Klishchiivka.

It is noted that Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Priogozhin emphasized that Ukrainian forces are approaching Berkhivka and claimed that Ukraine now holds positions within 500m of Bakhmut’s northwestern city limits.

However, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) rejected claims made by other Russian sources regarding Ukrainian advances and claimed instead that elements of the 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and 200th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade repelled all attacks in the Berkhivka area.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Russian invaders organize provocations with explosions to justify their own escape from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine and the announcement of evacuation.