Ukrainian military forces Gazprom’s PMC Potok to retreat from Bakhmut 

As per the latest report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy is persistently pursuing offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction, with ongoing fighting in the city of Bakhmut. The enemy has targeted the city with incendiary and phosphorus ammunition. The enemy attempted to conduct offensives towards Khromove, Ivanivske, Chasiv Yar, and Stupochky, but their attempts were futile.

According to the commander of the Ground Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, the occupiers have intensified their shelling of Bakhmut with heavy weapons, and are regrouping their troops while employing advanced equipment.

Despite these challenges, Ukrainian soldiers have successfully eliminated not only the mercenaries of the Wagner PMC in the Bakhmut area but also another Russian private military company, Potok PMC, which was supposed to provide support to Yevgeny Prigozhin's militants in the Bakhmut direction, but fled to the rear.

“Ukrainian soldiers have successfully eliminated not only the mercenaries of the Wagner PMC in the Bakhmut area but also another Russian private military company, Potok PMC, which was supposed to provide support to Yevgeny Prigozhin's Wagner militants in the Bakhmut direction, but fled to the rear”

Let me remind you of the statement made by Prigozhin, the leader of the Wagner PMC, that it was in this area where the Ukrainian military successfully destroyed Gazprom's PMC Potok. Thanks to the effective attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Potok's mercenaries fled to the rear and abandoned their "partners." As a result, our soldiers were able to maintain control over the track.

As for the occupiers' pressure in the Ivanivske region, they attempt to seize control of the Bakhmut-Kostyantynivka highway, where the Armed Forces of Ukraine are firmly holding their positions. The fighting is fierce in the city itself. Presently, the Armed Forces control the western districts of the city, which comprise a continuous line of defense, effectively halting the enemy's advance. We must acknowledge the difficult reality of the situation, though. 

“Presently, the Armed Forces control the western districts of the city, which comprise a continuous line of defense, effectively halting the enemy's advance. We must acknowledge the difficult reality of the situation, though” 

The statements made by Russian "military commanders" claiming a breakthrough of Ukrainian defenses in the Khromove area are not accurate. Nevertheless, the enemy still has control over the Bakhmut-Khromove-Chasiv Yar route, and the situation remains challenging.

The capture of Bakhmut serves not only a military and political objective but also an economic one, as Russian invaders aim to resolve the water supply issue for the occupied part of Donetsk region. By controlling the water intake, they can ensure the uninterrupted supply of potable and technical water to the occupied territories.

However, the political component is the most crucial factor in this issue. The Russian occupiers need more significant victories than capturing settlements that had three civilians living there before the war.

It is important to remember that fierce battles for Bakhmut have been ongoing since August 2022. The Russian invaders have almost entirely destroyed the city. Despite these extreme circumstances, Ukrainian soldiers continue to defend the city heroically.

Special for Espreso

About the author. Dmytro Sniehiryov, Espreso columnist

The editors do not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.