UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 344 - JANUARY 31, 2023

The introduction of Russian conventional forces on the front lines of Bakhmut has reshaped the peak of the Wagner Group's offensive and regained the initiative for Russian operations around the city.

The ISW forecast on December 27 that the Russian offensive against Bakhmut had reached its peak was inaccurate. As ISW noted on January 28, while the Wagner Group's offensive had reached its peak, the Russian command has deployed enough conventional Russian forces to reinvigorate the offensive and prevent the overall peak of the offensive on Bakhmut, which is now ongoing.

The commander of a Ukrainian unit operating in Bakhmut, Denys Yarolavskyi, confirmed that "highly skilled" Russian conventional forces are now reinforcing the attack units of the private military companies (PMC) of the Wagner Group in their ongoing efforts to encircle Bakhmut. Another Ukrainian commander on the Bakhmut front, Volodymyr Nazarenko, also confirmed ISW's observations that the Russian military command has deployed Russian airborne troops for the Bakhmut offensive. Russian forces continue to conduct offensive operations northeast and southwest of Bakhmut, achieving limited territorial gains since the capture of Soledar on January 12.

The full Russian Offensive Update 344 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online