Ukraine Reports Destruction of a Russian Brigade and Soldiers' Retreat from the Outskirts of Bakhmut

Ukrainian military forces reported on Wednesday, May 10, the destruction of a Russian brigade in the outskirts of Bakhmut and the retreat of its soldiers. Colonel Alexander Syrski, commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, stated on Wednesday that Russian units have retreated up to two kilometers in some areas of Bakhmut. He did not provide further details. Hanna Maliar, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister, also wrote on Telegram that pro-Kyiv forces did not lose any positions in Bakhmut on Wednesday. Bakhmut is a key transportation hub in the Donetsk region and was a primary target of Russia's winter offensive against Ukraine. According to Reuters, Bakhmut has been the site of the bloodiest ground battle in Europe since World War II in recent months, with both sides suffering heavy casualties. Ukrainian forces have been engaged in combat in the Bakhmut area with the Wagner paramilitary group. The Wagner group, which has led the Russian front to capture Bakhmut in recent months, threatened a week ago that if Moscow did not send them more ammunition, they would withdraw their forces from Bakhmut. Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of the Wagner group, who has repeatedly accused Moscow's armed forces of not providing adequate support to his men, said on Tuesday that the 72nd Russian Army Brigade had abandoned its positions in part of Bakhmut and fled. A unit of the Ukrainian army also confirmed Prigozhin's statements about the retreat of the 72nd Russian Brigade, adding that the bodies of 500 Russian soldiers were left around Bakhmut. A spokesperson for the Ukrainian military in the east stated that this Russian brigade has been severely damaged but emphasized that Russia is still attempting to capture the rest of Bakhmut. Serhiy Chervaty said in a television interview on Wednesday that this Russian brigade has not been completely destroyed and the situation in Bakhmut remains difficult. A Russian brigade typically consists of several thousand troops. However, Moscow has not yet commented on reports regarding the destruction of this brigade and the retreat of its forces from the outskirts of Bakhmut. The Russian military invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, 2022, leading both countries into an ongoing military confrontation. Hundreds have been killed in these military conflicts, and thousands of Ukrainian citizens have been displaced. The U.S. and European countries have imposed sanctions on Moscow due to the military invasion of Ukraine and have provided millions of dollars in financial and military aid to Kyiv. The European Union began discussions on new sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, May 10.