ISW: Ukrainian troops liberate 16.85 square km in Bakhmut area

The Institute for the Study of War writes about this.

American analysts have highlighted that Ukrainian troops are continuing their counterattacks in the Bakhmut area, as they make statements about further gains in the southwest of the city. 

On May 13, Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, announced that Ukrainian forces are advancing on unspecified areas of the front, while the General Staff reported that active operations are currently underway in the Bakhmut area.

Serhiy Cherevaty, spokesman for the Eastern Group of Forces, has stated that Ukrainian troops liberated 17.3 square kilometers of territory in the Bakhmut direction during three days of counterattacks.

According to ISW data as of May 13, Ukrainian troops have liberated 16.85 square kilometers in the Bakhmut area during the latest counterattacks.

On May 12, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of Wagner PMC, dismissed talk of tactical withdrawal of Russian troops, claiming that they continue to leave their positions in unspecified locations. 

A Russian military blogger also asserted that Ukrainian troops established new positions on the outskirts of Kurdyumivka, 14 km southwest of Bakhmut, and pushed back Russian forces along the Siverskyi Donets – Donbas channel. 

The blogger claimed that the Armed Forces advanced towards Klishchiivka, 7 km southwest of Bakhmut, from the direction of Predtechyne, which is 16 km away from the city. 

However, ISW emphasized that as of May 13, they currently do not have visual confirmation of these Ukrainian achievements.

• On May 13, British intelligence confirmed that units of the 72nd separate motorized rifle brigade of the Russian Federation had chaotically withdrawn from their positions on the southern flank of the Bakhmut direction. 

• Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that the Ukrainian military is continuing its defensive operation in the Bakhmut direction and is moving forward in some areas of the front.