Russian group Wagner makes “some” progress in Donbas in first tactical gains since July: information on the UK


The Kremlin-linked Wagner group has helped Russia make some of its first tactical advances in the Donbas region since July, defense officials said Friday.

The UK Ministry of Defense said pro-Russian forces have advanced towards the city center of Bakhmut in Donetsk over the past three days, where its mercenary group remains “heavily involved” in the fighting.

Some strategic advances were also reportedly achieved in Luhansk by regional forces in the cities of Opytine and Ivangrad.

Anti-tank hedgehogs block roads in downtown Bakhmut as fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops intensifies for control of the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine on October 4, 2022.

Anti-tank hedgehogs block roads in downtown Bakhmut as fighting between Ukrainian forces and Russian troops intensifies for control of the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine on October 4, 2022.
(Narciso Contreras Agency / Anadolu via Getty Images)

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“There have been few, if any, other settlements seized by regular Russian or separatist forces since the beginning of July,” defense officials said.

The ministry said pro-Russian forces will likely try to take Bakhmut as a “preliminary” victory before attempting to seize the Kramatorsk-Sloviansk area, which it described as the “most significant center in Donetsk” that Ukraine still holds.

Despite Russia’s apparent gains, the ministry said, “its overall operational project is undermined by Ukrainian pressure against its northern and southern flanks and severe shortages of ammunition and manpower.”

Ukrainian soldiers travel in an armored personnel carrier on a road in the eastern Luhansk region on June 23, 2022, in the midst of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian soldiers travel in an armored personnel carrier on a road in the eastern Luhansk region on June 23, 2022, in the midst of the Russian military invasion of Ukraine.
(ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFP via Getty Images)

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The news comes as Ukrainian forces continue to make progress in their counter-offensive in the southern Kherson region, where Moscow has urged pro-Russian citizens to flee, particularly around the city of Kherson.

Last month, Russia attempted to reclaim four Ukrainian regions including Kherson, a strategically vital region that Moscow has been unable to protect since it launched its invasion in February, despite its proximity to occupied Crimea.

Moscow has also apparently offered free housing to Ukrainian citizens wishing to flee to Russia as Kherson City prepares to become the last city on the front line, although reports have emerged from the onslaught of the invasion showing forced deportations to Russia.

This photograph, taken on May 10, 2022, shows a Ukrainian army self-propelled howitzer loading onto a tank transporter near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

This photograph, taken on May 10, 2022, shows a Ukrainian army self-propelled howitzer loading onto a tank transporter near Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP via Getty Images)

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On Thursday, Crimea was named by Moscow as one of the regions Kherson civilians are expected to flee to, along with Russia’s Rostov, Krasnodar and Stavropol regions.

However, Crimea, which has been occupied since 2014, may be next in Ukraine’s sights as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has promised not to stop his forces until all regions are restored to Kiev.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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