Britain's defence intelligence on Saturday said that Ukraine's defence in Bakhmut is preventing Russia's Wagner mercenary group from capturing the entire town. However, defence intelligence found that Ukraine's supply lines to the West remain vulnerable.
The defence intelligence report said, “Over the last four days, Wagner Group forces have taken control of most of the eastern part of the Donbas town of Bakhmut. In the town centre, the Bakhmutka River now marks the front line.” The report said Ukrainian forces at present control West of Bakhmut town and they have destroyed key bridges “which runs north-south through a strip of open ground 200m-800m wide, between built-up areas.”
“With Ukrainian units able to fire from fortified buildings to the west, this area has become a killing zone, likely making it highly challenging for Wagner forces attempting to continue their frontal assault westwards,” the report said.
The report added, “However, the Ukrainian force and their supply lines to the west remain vulnerable to the continued Russian attempts to outflank the defenders from the north and south.”
