The large-scale losses of PMC Wagner, as well as the general shift of the Russian armed forces to a more cautious position, may open opportunities for counterattacks by the Armed Forces of Ukraine, analysts say.
The Russian military command has abandoned an active attack on Bakhmut in favor of preparing to defend against an expected counteroffensive by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This was stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), published the previous day.
“The Russian Ministry of Defense appears to have abandoned the Bakhmut offensive in favor of preparing to defend against an expected Ukrainian counter-offensive, putting the Wagner Group and Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner PMC, in a potentially difficult position,” the report said.
ISW recalled that Prigozhin released videos on May 4 and 5 in which he announced that Wagner would leave Bakhmut on May 10 if he did not receive the necessary supplies, and made harsh and emotional statements to the military leadership of Russia.
Analysts said Prigozhin’s actions suggest the Russian Defense Ministry likely de-prioritized Bakhmut and moved the operations center elsewhere in the theater in a way that would seriously undermine the Wagner Group’s ability to operate effectively. However, the “Wagnerites” did not stop attempts to completely capture Bakhmut, despite the limited access to ammunition and other necessary supplies.
“Wagner’s large-scale losses in Bakhmut for the sake of tactical victories, as well as the general transfer of the Russian armed forces to a more cautious position in preparation for defensive operations, clearly open opportunities for to Ukrainian forces for fruitful counterattacks in various sectors. of the front,” the Institute’s analysts concluded, adding, that “Ukrainian forces seem to be taking advantage of some of these opportunities,” but it may not necessarily be part of a projected counteroffensive.
Remember that Ukraine is preparing for a counter-offensive. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this on May 4. He also promised “some bad news” for Russians following his international trips.
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Source: korrespondent
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