ISW: Russian forces’ advance in Ukraine's Bakhmut area likely slowed down

Russian forces’ rate of advance in the Bakhmut area in Ukraine has likely slowed in recent days, although it is too early to assess whether the Russian offensive to capture Bakhmut has culminated, Report informs, citing the Institute for the Study of War.

Russian milbloggers acknowledged that Ukrainian forces in the Bakhmut area have managed to slightly slow down the pace of the Russian advance around Bakhmut and its surrounding settlements, with one claiming that Ukrainian forces pushed back elements of the Wagner Group to positions they held days ago.

Ukrainian social media sources previously claimed that Ukrainian forces completely pushed Russian forces out of the eastern outskirts of Bakhmut around December 21.

ISW has also assessed that Russian forces made slightly fewer overall advances in the Bakhmut area in November and December combined as compared to the month of October.

Russian forces will likely struggle to maintain the pace of their offensive operations in the Bakhmut area and may seek to initiate a tactical or operational pause, says ISW.