Bakhmut again becomes site of intense fighting after June lull – UK intel

The relevant statement was made by the Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom on Twitter, referring to the latest Defence Intelligence update, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the intelligence update, Ukrainian forces have made steady gains to both the north and south of the Donetsk region’s Bakhmut. Russian defenders are highly likely “struggling with poor morale, a mix of disparate units and a limited ability to find and strike Ukrainian artillery”.

“The Russian leadership almost certainly see it as politically unacceptable to concede Bakhmut, which has a symbolic weight as one of the few Russian gains in the last 12 months,” the report states.

However, there are highly likely few additional reserves to commit to the sector, the UK intelligence noted.

A reminder that, between February 24, 2022 and July 8, 2023, Russia’s total combat losses in Ukraine reached about 233,440 troops.