The Defense Forces of Ukraine intercepted the tactical initiative in the Bakhmut direction as a result of a series of offensive operations that were carried out on Thursday, May 18.
This is stated in a report by analysts of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
"The limited nature of the offensive operations of the "Wagner" PVK in Bakhmut compared to local Ukrainian counterattacks emphasizes the loss of the Russian initiative in this area," the report says.
According to ISW analysts, the military leadership of the Russian Federation is now transferring additional units to the Bakhmut area in order to strengthen the capabilities of the "Wagner" PMC.
Earlier on Thursday, May 18, the owner of PVK "Wagner" Evgeny Prigozhin said that the Russian invaders allegedly control 98% of the territory of Bakhmut.
At the same time, according to Serhiy Cherevaty, the spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, during the day the Ukrainian military was able to advance on the flanks around Bakhmut to a distance of 150 to 1,700 meters.
