UK intelligence: Ukraine’s Bakhmut becoming increasingly isolated

The embattled city of Bakhmut located in eastern Ukraine is getting more and more isolated from the Ukrainian army’s supply lines, the UK intelligence agency tweeted.

According to them, Russia has continued its “small advances” in an attempt to encircle Bakhmut. The two main roads leading to the city, M03 and H32, are now likely under threat of direct fire due to the Russian progress in the region.

Earlier this week, Wagner Group mercenary units likely captured a subordinate route that links Bakhmut to Siversk. The Ukrainian troops in Bakhmut still have several supply lines available but the city generally is becoming increasingly cut off from the rest of the country, the UK intelligence report notes.

Earlier today, Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said that the Russian army had “thrown all its forces” to encircle Bakhmut this week.

Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelesnky told the EU-Ukraine summit hosted in Kyiv on Friday that “no one will surrender Bakhmut”.

“It is our fortress. We will hold on to it as long as we can. If we get long-range weapons, we will not just keep Bakhmut but also start de-occupying Donbas,” he said.