Russian manpower decreases south of Bakhmut – deputy commander of National Guard battalion Nazarenko

He said this on the Espreso TV channel.

"The situation in the Bakhmut sector remains tense. The enemy is trying to advance and is using the last of its forces. They are using Wagner's troops as punitive units. Instead of paratroopers, the Russians are sending infantry units and regular units, which are replenished with quickly mobilized soldiers who are not known for their courage. The front line in Bakhmut is almost unchanged. Fighting continues on the outskirts and in the private sector of the city. The enemy is using a significant amount of artillery to destroy the city in order to create inconveniences in logistics," noted Nazarenko.

According to him, Ukrainian defenders control  Bakhmut and conduct active defense. Any attempts to advance by the enemy are being suppressed.

"Many wounded occupants are dying in the trenches from frost. The situation is much more complicated on the southern and northern outskirts of Bakhmut. The enemy continues to attempt to take control of the Kostiantynivka - Bakhmut road. The enemy advance has been stopped and some positions have been repelled. The number of enemy manpower has decreased in the south of Bakhmut. The enemy is forced to deploy additional structures to rotate personnel," emphasized Nazarenko.

• The troops of the Russian Federation continue to regroup in some sectors and focus on the offensive in five more directions. In turn, the Armed Forces destroyed the enemy and repelled attacks in the areas of 10 settlements.

• The President of Ukraine said that currently the hottest situation is in Donetsk region and in the East, the military leadership is working on all hostile scenarios and preparing for any plans of the occupiers