Russia attempts to intensify offensive efforts in Bakhmut – ISW

This is reported by ISW.

The analysts say that the so-called head of the DPR Denys Pushylin said on May 16 that the Russian army had strengthened its forces in the Bakhmut area to stabilize the situation. Furthermore, a well-known Russian military commander reported that four unidentified Russian battalions were deployed on the flanks around Bakhmut to prevent Ukrainian breakthroughs.

ISW noted that the relevant reports of reinforcements are consistent with the May 15 statement by Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar that Russian forces are deploying additional airborne forces to protect the flanks of Bakhmut, which are likely to be transferred from other areas of the front.

• On May 13, it was reported that the Ukrainian military is gradually advancing in two directions in the suburbs of Bakhmut.

• On May 15, the commander of the Ground Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi called the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Bakhmut direction the first success of the offensive.