Russia transfers additional forces to Bakhmut direction withdrawing them from other areas of the front – British intelligence

This is reported by British intelligence.

Fierce battles continue on the front line in the Donetsk region, analysts of the UK Ministry of Defenсe noted. There is now a real possibility that Russia has reduced the number of troops and offensive actions in the Donetsk region, most likely to redirect resources to the Bakhmut direction.

In Bakhmut, Russian MoD and Wagner forces continue to advance slowly. The front line in the city center mostly runs along the main railway line. Ukraine is generally holding Russia’s envelopment from the south along the line of Korsunskoho Street, the old main road west out of town.

"For both sides, the exact sequencing of any major drawdown of their units around Bakhmut has become a critical question, with Ukraine wanting to free-up an offensive force while Russia likely aspires to regenerate an operational reserve," the British MoD emphasized.

• The Ukrainian military reports that in Bakhmut, Russians concentrated all their forces at the railway station.

• Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said that in all districts, except for Bakhmut and Avdiivka, Russia turned to a strategic defensive operation in order to keep the captured territories.