Something seems to be changing in the Battle of Bahamut, with the Russians losing momentum from previous weeks and the Ukrainians launching a localized counter-offensive, strengthening their only supply route, according to a new update from the British Ministry of Defence.

An important parameter is the impending withdrawal of regular Russian forces from the region, which means Moscow is considering leaving the battle for Bahamut to Wagner’s mercenary company, for which victory in the western city of Donetsk is a matter of honor.

As the ministry said in a tweet, always relying on British intelligence, “Ukrainian forces have launched a local counterattack in the western part of Bakhmut in recent days, which is likely to reduce pressure on the H-32 supply route.”

“Fighting is underway around the city center and Ukrainian defenses remain vulnerable to dual pressure from north and south,” the ministry in London said.

“However,” he notes in his post, “there is a real possibility that the Russian offensive on the city will lose what little momentum it has gained, in part due to the redeployment of some units of the Russian Ministry of Defense to other sectors.”

Source: UK Department of Defense, Reuters.