UK intelligence confirms chaotic retreat of Russia's unit near Bakhmut

The British Ministry of Defense reported the information on Twitter

British intelligence notes that over the past four days, units of the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Russian Armed Forces have probably chaotically withdrawn from their positions on the southern flank of the Bakhmut direction. Ukrainian forces have regained at least 1 km of territory.

This area is of some tactical importance, as it was a Russian foothold on the western side of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal, which marks the front line in this part of the sector.

"72 SMRB is an element of Russia’s 3rd Army Corps, a formation created in Autumn 2023 and dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness. Its deployment to such a demanding and operationally important sector highlights Russia’s severe shortage of credible combat units," the British intelligence concluded. 

• On May 10, the commander of the Ukrainian Land Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, confirmed that the Ukrainian Defense Forces had forced Russians to retreat to a distance of up to 2 km in the Bakhmut direction.