British intelligence assesses Russian army's ability to hold Bakhmut

Russian troops are understaffed and the Russian army command has no available reserves to throw at holding Bakhmut, Donetsk Region. This was stated by the British Defence Ministry.

At the same time, they note that Bakhmut remains a strategically important target for Moscow and the loss of the settlement would mean a tangible defeat for the Kremlin.

After a lull in June, Bakhmut has again become the scene of some of the fiercest fighting on the front in the last seven days, the British Defence Ministry has pointed out.

Speaking about what is happening in Bakhmut, British intelligence noted that Ukrainian defenders have made significant gains there. They have carried out a number of successful battles and gained a foothold in the north of the city and in the south.

However, the city itself remains under Russian control for the time being," London noted.

The Defence Ministry pointed out that the Russian army is limited in its ability to find and defeat Ukrainian artillery and is struggling with the poor morale of its personnel.

It is noted that the Russian leadership almost certainly considers it politically unacceptable to surrender Bakhmut, which carries symbolic weight as one of Russia's few achievements in the past 12 months.