UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 460 - MAY 27, 2023

The Wagner Group mercenaries seem to be withdrawing from the city of Bakhmut to regroup and gather in the hinterland as Russian offensive operations in and around the city decrease.

Ukrainian military officials report that Russian offensive operations toward Bakhmut have drastically decreased except for two skirmishes, and Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense Hanna Malyar attributes this decline to the Russian rotation on the ground and the regrouping of forces in the area. The Ukrainian General Staff reported on May 27 that Russian forces have conducted unsuccessful offensive operations west of Khromove (just west of Bakhmut) and toward Predtechyne (15 km southwest of Bakhmut). Malyar explains that Ukrainian forces hold dominant positions north and south of Bakhmut and that Ukrainian forces ceased their combat operations on May 26 and 27 to fulfill other unspecified tasks. She also emphasizes that Ukrainian forces continue to control positions on the southwestern outskirts of Bakhmut. A prominent Russian Milblogger claims that Ukrainian forces are not actively conducting operations to recapture positions in the city of Bakhmut itself, although there may still be local Ukrainian counterattacks northwest and southwest of the city.

The complete Russian Offensive Update 460 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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