Russian troops are expanding the front in Bakhmut and preparing defense in Kupyansk - ISW (map)

Military researchers refer to data from the General Staff of the Armed Forces, which may indicate that Russian troops are preparing for defensive actions near Kupyansk. The report that Russian Air Force units are protecting the Wagner PEC flanks in Bakhmut, may be evidence that the Russian command is considering a war zone in the Bakhmut area much wider than the administrative boundaries of the area.

ISW refers to Russian sources that claim that the elements of the 106th Airborne Division hold the flank in Yakivli (17 km from Bakhmut). Another source reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation conduct an offensive in the direction of the privilege (18 km from Bakhmut).

The possible presence of GVA may indicate that paratroopers provide Wagner PEC from the south and north at a considerable distance from the north of Bakhmut from Dubovo-Vasilivka (6 km from Bakhmut) to Yakivlivka and Kurdyumivka in the south (14 km south-west of Bakhmut ). It is noted that landing units can not be used to support the "Wagnets" who are trying to take Bakhmut in the environment, as in order to prevent Ukraine's counter -attacks on a wider axis.

Recall that the Ministry of Defense commented on the Kremlin's statements about the situation in Bakhmut. Deputy Minister of Defense Anna Malyar said that propagandists from the Russian Federation claim that the Armed Forces Command did not pay attention to the loss of Ukrainian fighters. Earlier it was reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation was thrown into Bakhmut "elite" units, but the Armed Forces were declared. This was stated by the spokesman of the East Sergey Cherevaty.