--- title: "Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Retakes Ground On Bakhmut’s Flanks" date: "2023-05-13" modified: "2023-05-13" authors: - name: "Stetson Payne" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/stetson-payne" url: "https://www.twz.com/ukraine-situation-report-kyiv-retakes-ground-on-bakhmuts-flanks" categories: - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Ukraine" tags: - "Ukraine" --- # Ukraine Situation Report: Kyiv Retakes Ground On Bakhmut’s Flanks ![]() *Ukrainian servicemen of the Adam tactical group ride a T-64 tank from a front line near the town of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, on May 7, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Sergey SHESTAK / AFP)* After months of fighting in and around the besieged city of Bakhmut, Ukrainian forces have retaken ground on the city’s flanks as a Russian unit made a hasty retreat. In its latest assessment, the Institute for the Study of War ([@TheStudyOfWar]()) noted signs indicating local Ukrainian counterattacks to the northwest and southwest of the city, retaking about 17 square kilometers. In the north, Ukrainian forces advanced along the Berkhivka reservoir. At the same time, Ukrainians pushed south out of Ivanivske. https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1657400434678431745 https://twitter.com/georgewbarros/status/1657397311419326466 https://twitter.com/emilkastehelmi/status/1657421519172128768 The British Ministry of Defense confirmed the Russian [72nd Motor Rifle Brigade’]()s retreat from areas on Bakhmut’s southern flanks. Their retreat over the previous four days led to Ukrainian gains and further criticism of Russia’s Ministry of Defense from Wagner PMC boss Yevgeny Prigozhin. https://twitter.com/DefenceHQ/status/1657260004070633473 Prigozhin’s complaints have only grown louder and more damning in recent weeks, culminating in an alleged call for rebellion. In an audio recording with subtitles tweeted by Anton Gerashenko, Adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs, it is claimed that Prigozhin can be heard calling the “special military operation” a “stupid war” and that Russian soldiers have been abandoned in the tragedy. https://twitter.com/Gerashchenko_en/status/1657428866078584834?s=20 *The War Zone* cannot independently confirm the authenticity of Prigozhin’s remarks. Russian Telegram channels meanwhile have attributed the losses to a total lack of coordination and communication between Wagner PMC forces and regular Russian units. https://twitter.com/RALee85/status/1657295459289911296 Prigozhin’s remarks aside, discontent among Russian mil-bloggers and the country’s pro-war faction continues to grow. At a meeting of the “Angry Patriot’s Club,” [a hardline Russian nationalist group]() formed in April, founding member [Igor Girkin]() and others on the Russian far-right, spoke of revolution, holy war, and “cleansing” when discussing the situation. https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1657420591438221314 The incredible human toll notwithstanding, the Bakhmut 'meat grinder' may well have also exhausted the patience and the relationship between various factions within Russia’s war effort. In particular, time and the looming Ukrainian counterattacks will reveal precisely how big a split there is between the Kremlin's own military and its Wagner mercenaries. Before we head into the latest from Ukraine, *The War Zone* readers can catch up on our previous rolling coverage [here](). ## The Latest New imagery adds to evidence of the [Storm Shadow cruise missile]()’s use [against a target in Luhansk this week](), with debris supposedly showing markings consistent with the British standoff weapon. Damage from the strike is extensive, with the targeted building having partially collapsed. https://twitter.com/CalibreObscura/status/1657321801335074816 https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1657317762157477888 The Storm Shadow further found its way into the Wagner-MoD dispute, with the Wagner-aligned Telegram channel Grey Zone ([@grey\_zone]()) calling B.S. on Moscow’s claim that it shot down the Ukrainian aircraft launching the missiles. https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1657452362095575041 More explosions rocked Luhansk on Saturday, with some reporting a repeat of the previous day’s strike using Storm Shadow missiles and potentially [ADM-160B MALD decoys](). It has not been confirmed what weapon was used in Saturday’s strikes. https://twitter.com/loogunda/status/1657332345324568581 Across the Russian border in Bryansk Oblast, four Russian Air Force aircraft were shot down. It remains unclear exactly what brought down two Mi-8 “Hip” helicopters, a Su-34 “Fullback” and a Su-35 “Flanker-E,” and you can read our in-depth coverage on that story [here](). https://twitter.com/UAWeapons/status/1657368124788809728 A series of huge explosions rocked the western Ukrainian city of Khmelnitsky, with towering mushroom clouds rising above the regional center. Our coverage of the explosion and its similarities to the [strike on Pavlohrad last week]() can be found [here](). https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/1657410504254451718 There are incredible videos of two Ukrainian Air Force fighters making low passes at an airfield. By “uncomfortably” we mean “duck if you don’t want to get a high-speed haircut” low. The Su-27 seen in the clips is also armed with a pair of [AGM-88 HARM]() anti-radar missiles. https://twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1657246786648436739 The [*Washington Post*]() has an incredible scoop about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s behind-the-scenes discussions on operations against Russia. The story, citing leaked intercepts from U.S. intelligence agencies, says Zelensky is often equal parts moderate and hawk when it comes to Ukraine's war effort. While sometimes urging restraint against advisers' wishes, Zelensky has at times expressed interest in bold, aggressive attacks within Russia himself. https://twitter.com/John_Hudson/status/1657464735602753539 Among highlights, Zelensky reportedly suggested occupying several Russian border towns as leverage in diplomatic negotiations with Moscow, alongside strikes against Russian targets. Zelensky also reportedly wanted to strike the Druzhba pipeline connecting NATO member Hungary to Russian oil, no doubt related to Zelensky’s [icy relationship]() with Russian-aligned Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1657497228724826116 https://twitter.com/SamRamani2/status/1657499027636666373 The Belarusian opposition claims [President Alexander Lukashenko]() was hospitalized and remains out of the public eye after skipping out on much of the [May 9 Victory Day celebrations]() in Moscow. https://twitter.com/Hajun_BY/status/1657433538143170562 Lastly, there is another member of Ukraine’s [four-legged combat team](), with a badger doing a routine inspection of a trench encampment. Together, we’d say the badger, [pole cat](), [beaver](), and [mole rat]() would make an interesting fireteam at the front. https://twitter.com/loogunda/status/1657386166964944898 That’s all for now. We’ll update this story when there’s more news to report about Ukraine. *Contact the author:* [*stetson.payne@thewarzone.com*]() ### Author social links