British intelligence explains why Russian troops avoid intense street fighting in Bakhmut

The British Ministry of Defense reports this on Twitter.

British intelligence draws attention to the fact that during the last week, Russian forces have slightly advanced to the eastern outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk region. Russian infantry are now likely entrenched in the eastern industrial areas of the city, and sometimes advanced into the residential areas of the city. Street fighting continues.

Since June 2022, intense fighting has been going on near Bakhmut, but most of it is taking place in the open area around the eastern approaches to the city.

"The war has seen little protracted, large-scale fighting in built up areas (FIBUA) since the Russian advances into Lysychansk and Siverodonetsk in July 2022. With FIBUA demanding highly trained infantry with excellent junior level leadership, this type of combat is unlikely to favour poorly trained Wagner fighters and the Russian army’s mobilised reservists," the ministry concludes.