The advance of the Ukrainian defenders in the Bakhmut sector is the first success of the offensive during the operation to defend Bakhmut. However, this is only a partial success, and the operation to defend the city continues.
"The last few days have shown that we can move forward and destroy the enemy even in such extremely difficult conditions," the commander of the Khortytsya operational and strategic group of troops, Oleksandr Syrskyy, said on Telegram.
"We are fighting with fewer resources than the enemy. At the same time, we manage to destroy its plans. All thanks to our warriors who are fighting the aggressor, exceeding the top limit of human capabilities," he said.
Syrskyy added that all decisions necessary for defence have been made.
"All possible scenarios have been worked out with the commanders directly at the battlefield," the commander said.
Deputy Minister of Defence Hanna Malyar added that the situation in Bakhmut and the surrounding area is difficult.
"Against all odds, our troops have managed to advance for several days. This is all thanks to the superpowers and professionalism of our military. The Russians are not changing their target. They are pulling up their air assault units to the outskirts of Bakhmut. Heavy fighting continues," she wrote.
The first news about the advance of the Defence Forces in Bakhmut appeared on 9 May. It became known that the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had defeated units of the Russian 72nd Brigade during the offensive in Bakhmut. In fact, two companies of this brigade were completely destroyed, and the brigade's intelligence was defeated. On 10 May, Syrskyy confirmed that in certain areas of the front in the Bakhmut sector, the Russians were unable to withstand the onslaught of Ukrainian defenders and retreated to a distance of up to 2 km.
In the following days, on 12-13 May, Ukrainian soldiers advanced into enemy-controlled territory in Bakhmut to a distance of up to 2 km. On 14 May, Hanna Malyar reported that the Defence Forces managed to capture more than 10 positions of the Russian occupiers.