Russian retreat in Bakhmut highlights ‘shortage of credible combat units’, says UK MoD
Ukrainian forces have regained at least a kilometre of territory in Bakhmut amid a Russian withdrawal that reflects its “severe shortage of credible combat units”, the latest UK intelligence briefing has said.
The Ministry of Defence said that over the past four days, elements of Russia’s 72nd separate motor rifle brigade (72 SMRB) likely withdrew “in bad order” from their positions on the southern flank of the Bakhmut operation.
A Ukrainian tank near Bakhmut. Photograph: Libkos/AP
The area was tactically significant because it was a Russian bridgehead on the western side of the Donets-Donbas canal, which marked the front line through parts of the area, the ministry said in its update, posted on Twitter.
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…
This article was written by Adam Fulton and originally published on www.theguardian.com