Russian forces lose initiative near Bakhmut

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the information in its recent report.

The report states that Russian and Ukrainian officials acknowledged the continuation of limited Ukrainian counterattacks near Bakhmut on May 17.

In particular, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said that Ukrainian troops were advancing in unspecified directions on the flanks of Bakhmut. In turn, the spokesperson for the Eastern Group, Serhiy Cherevaty, said that the Ukrainian defenders had advanced up to 500 meters in the Bakhmut direction over the past day and continue to advance on the Russian flanks.

"One prominent milblogger complained that Russian forces must now react to Ukrainian actions, implying that Russian forces are losing the initiative in the Bakhmut area despite the limited nature of Ukrainian counterattacks in the area," the ISW report said.

• On May 13, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister reported that the Ukrainian military was gradually advancing in two directions in the suburbs of Bakhmut. 

• On May 15, Army Commander Oleksandr Syrsky called the advance of Ukrainian troops in the Bakhmut direction the first success of the offensive.