AFU intercepted tactical initiative in Bakhmut area, - ISW
Ukrainian troops seized the tactical initiative and achieved tactically significant successes in the area of Bakhmut during counter-offensive operations on 18 May.
As reported by Censor.NET with reference to UP, this is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
It is noted that the relevant operations of the Ukrainian forces are a continuation of the local counter-offensives that they have been conducting for several days, but are not the beginning of a new major operation.
Analysts noted that several Russian military commanders claimed that Ukrainian forces had broken through Russian defense lines south and southwest of Ivanivske (6 km west of Bakhmut) and northwest of Klishchiivka (6 km southwest of Bakhmut).
Military commanders also claim that Russian forces have retreated from positions north of Sakko and Vanzetti (15 km north of Bakhmut) to positions south of the village, but Ukrainian troops have not yet entered the village, according to the ISW report.
The institute recalled that the founder of the "Wagner" PMC, Yevhen Prigozhin, accused Russian troops of surrendering 570 meters of territory north of Bakhmut.
The ISW stressed that Prigozhin's statements are in line with the statements of Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar that Ukrainian troops had advanced 500 meters north of Bakhmut and 1,000 meters south of Bakhmut.
In addition, the analysts said, the spokesman for the Eastern Forces, Colonel Serhii Cherevaty, said that on 18 May, Ukrainian troops advanced by 1700 meters, and the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade reported that counterattacks by its fighters had expanded the Ukrainian advance in the Bakhmut area to 2000 meters in width and 700 meters in depth.
"The limited nature of Wagner's offensive operations in Bakhmut compared to local Ukrainian counterattacks underscores the loss of Russian initiative in the area," the institute said.
