Russians regain momentum in battle for Bakhmut, latest intelligence suggests
Russian forces have regained some momentum in the battle for the Ukrainian town of Bakhmut, according to the latest UK intelligence.
The Ministry of Defence says Russian troops have likely advanced into the town centre and have seized the west bank of the Bakhmutka River.
It would mean the key Ukrainian supply route to the west of the town is likely severely threatened.
Furthermore, the MOD says there is a "realistic possibility" that Wagner mercenary and Russian MOD commanders have "paused their ongoing feud" locally and improved co-operation.
Russian president Vladimir Putin is reported to have sacked the commander of his Eastern Group of Forces (EGF), Colonel-General Rustam Muradov, after he presided over a series of failed assaults in eastern Ukraine that led to the deaths of huge numbers of his troops.
The MOD said reports on Russian social media suggesting Muradov had been dismissed were highly likely to be accurate, as the EGF had suffered exceptionally heavy casualties in recent months.
This was a result of poorly conceived assaults that had repeatedly failed to capture the Donetsk Oblast town of Vuhledar, the MOD said in its latest defence update.
In March, the MOD said Russia was making "creeping gains" in the Donbas region.
Another recent defence update said Russia was looking to sell off some of its future debt to "friendly" states and cover any future costs as a result of the war in Ukraine.
Ukrainian military commanders say their own counter-offensive, backed by newly delivered Western tanks and other military hardware is not far off.
They have, however, stressed the importance of holding places like Bakhmut and inflicting losses in the meantime.
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