Wagner PMC begin to abandon their positions in Bakhmut – British intelligence

The British Ministry of Defense reported the information on Twitter. 

British military intelligence suggests that Wagner PMC forces have begun to retreat from some of their positions around Bakhmut.

Thus, on May 25, the founder of Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, said that mercenaries began to leave the city in the Donetsk region and began to transfer positions to units of the regular Russian army. According to him, the process will last until June 1. 

British analysts added that the rotation of Russian troops was confirmed by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. They also assume that on May 24, DPR groups entered Bakhmut to begin demining. 

At the same time, units of the 31st Brigade of the Russian Airborne Forces are likely to be redeployed from the Svatove-Kreminna area to strengthen the flanks of Bakhmut. This is happening as Ukrainian forces occupy a 20 km square on the flanks near the city. 

"The rotation out of Wagner forces is likely to continue in controlled phases to prevent collapse in pockets around Bakhmut. Despite Prigozhin’s ongoing feud with the Russian MOD, Wagner forces will likely be used for further offensive operations in the Donbas following reconstituting its forces," the British intelligence concluded. 

• On May 27, the Institute for the Study of War stated that the Ukrainian military had virtually seized the initiative in the battles around Bakhmut.