In some areas of the frontline in the Bakhmut sector the Russians were unable to withstand the onslaught of Ukrainian defenders and retreated up to 2 km, the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyy has said.
According to him, this result is a consequence of a well-thought-out defence in the Bakhmut sector, which allows for effective counterattacks.
"It was the competent conduct of the defensive operation that exhausted the trained forces of the Wagner PMC and forced their replacement in certain areas by worse-trained units of the Russian regular troops, which were defeated and retreated," Syrskyy stressed.
He noted that despite a significant concentration of enemy troops and loud statements about their intentions to capture Bakhmut by 9 May, the Russians failed.
"Our defence forces are holding the frontline securely and preventing the enemy from advancing. The battle for Bakhmut is ongoing... I would like to highlight the work of the 3rd separate assault brigade, which dealt the enemy a powerful blow in the battle and demonstrated the strength of the Ukrainian army. As Carl von Clausewitz said: "The war is fought to victory. Period," added Syrskyy.
Over the past 24 hours, Russians carried out more than 30 attacks in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka and Maryinka sectors.
The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces defeated units of the 72nd Russian Brigade during the offensive in Bakhmut. Two companies of this brigade were nearly completely destroyed, and the brigade's reconnaissance unit was also defeated.