UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 450 - MAY 17, 2023

Russian and Ukrainian officials confirm further limited Ukrainian counterattacks near Bakhmut on May 17.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar states that Ukrainian forces are advancing in unspecified areas on the flanks of Bakhmut. Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherevaty says that Ukrainian forces have advanced up to 500 meters towards Bakhmut in recent days and continue to attack Russian flanks. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that the Russian airborne troops (VDV) had made minor progress, but confirmed the ongoing Ukrainian counterattacks against the flanks of Bakhmut at Bohdaniwka (5 km northwest of Bakhmut) and Iwaniwske (6 km west of Bakhmut). Wagner Group financier Yevgeny Prigozhin, however, denied the Defense Ministry's claims of territorial gains and criticized it for incorrectly portraying a retreat as capturing new positions. A prominent military blogger laments that Russian forces now have to react to Ukrainian actions, implying that despite the limited Ukrainian counterattacks in the Bakhmut region, Russian forces are losing the initiative.

US authorities announce that a Patriot air defense system is operational again after the Russian Defense Ministry claimed Russian missile attacks on Kyiv destroyed the system on May 16.

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