Russia has ‘highly likely’ advanced to the center of Bakhmut, UK government says
A Ukrainian serviceman looks on as he sits on an anti-air gun near Bakhmut, on March 24, 2023.
Aris Messinis | Afp | Getty Images
Russian forces have “highly likely” advanced into the center of the war-ravaged city of Bakhmut after weeks of bloody fighting and little progress, the UK’s Ministry of Defence wrote in its daily intelligence update.
“Russia has made further gains and has now highly likely advanced into the town centre, and has seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River. Ukraine’s key 0506 supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened,” the ministry wrote on Twitter.
“Russian regular forces, likely including airborne troops, have probably reinforced the area, and Russia is again using artillery more effectively in the sector.”
For several weeks, a rift has been evident between Russia’s state army and the Wagner Group, a private military contractor that plays a large role in Moscow’s combat operations. That schism may have been repaired to some extent, the ministry suggested.
“There is realistic possibility that, locally, Wagner and Russian MoD commanders have paused their ongoing feud and improved co-operation.”
— Natasha Turak
Pentagon is investigating major security breach after leaked Ukraine documents appear on social media
Classified documents detailing Pentagon and NATO plans to help Ukraine prepare for a Russian spring offensive have been leaked to social media.
The Pentagon is currently investigating the leak, which is a major security breach, after the documents appeared on Twitter and Telegram.
“Military analysts said the documents appear to have been modified in certain parts from their original format, overstating American estimates of Ukrainian war dead and understating estimates of Russian troops killed,” the New York Times reported. This, it said, could potentially point to Russian disinformation efforts.
“We are aware of the reports of social…
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