ISW: Russian offensive at Bakhmut runs out of steam
The AFU pushed back the Wagner group's units to the positions they had occupied a few days earlier.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The experts estimated that Russian troops launched fewer overall offensives near Bakhmut in November and December compared to October.
The ISW report said:
Russian forces are likely to find it difficult to maintain the tempo of their offensive operations near Bakhmut and may try to initiate a tactical or operational pause, experts say.
The Russians do not currently have the necessary supply of artillery ammunition to support large-scale offensive operations.
Reports of heavy losses of Wagner mercenaries near Bakhmut in recent weeks have also likely affected the current operational capabilities of Russian forces in the area, analysts wrote.
Russia's offensive on Bakhmut could also undermine its ability to pursue long-term goals in Donbas, the ISW noted.
The Institute noted:
The Russian military's fixation on a high attrition campaign to achieve its tactical objectives of capturing Severodonetsk and Lysychansk ultimately undermined the ability of the Russian military to achieve its larger operational objective of encircling Ukrainian forces along the E40 highway and eventually reaching the administrative borders of Donetsk Region.