Thread by @TheStudyofWar

Eastern #Ukraine: #Donetsk Oblast

Russian forces made marginal territorial gains around #Bakhmut and #Avdiivka and continued to conduct ground attacks across the Donetsk Oblast front line. 🧵(1/20)

isw.pub/UkrWar022523

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1629656119705567234

2/ #Bakhmut:

The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive operations near Orikhovo-Vasylivka (11km northwest of Bakhmut), Berkhivka (4km north of Bakhmut), Ivanivske (6km west of Bakhmut), and Pivnichne (21km southwest of Bakhmut).

3/ Yevgeny #Prigozhin claimed that his #Wagner Group fighters captured #Yahidne (2km north of Bakhmut) and posted a picture of Wagner fighters posing near the settlement’s welcome sign that was later geolocated, indicating that Wagner fighters likely captured the settlement.

4/ Russian sources continued to claim that #WagnerGroup fighters captured #Berkhivka and completed clearing the settlement, although ISW has not observed visual confirmation of these claims.

5/ Russian sources provided conflicting claims about gains near Dubovo-Vasylivka (6km NW of Bakhmut): an occupation official claimed that it was captured; a prominent milblogger claimed Russian forces only entered it; another milblogger said fighting was ongoing on its outskirts.

7/ Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces destroyed a dam north of #Bakhmut and flooded the Stupky area of Bakhmut in order to slow Russian advances from the north, although ISW has seen no visual evidence of these claims.

8/ Russian milbloggers claimed that Wagner fighters conducted assaults near Zaliznianske (11km north of Bakhmut), Vasyukivka (14km north of Bakhmut), Rozdolivka (17km northeast of Bakhmut), and Fedorivka (18km north of Bakhmut).

9/ Geolocated footage published on February 24 indicates that Russian forces likely made marginal advances in eastern #Bakhmut.

10/ The Ukrainian Border Guards Service reported that the Russians have committed their most combat-ready forces to Bakhmut and that there are many Wagner Group convict personnel around the city.

11/ Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced in the southern part of #Bakhmut and that Wagner fighters conducted ground attacks near Chasiv Yar (12km west of Bakhmut) and Dyliivka (15km southwest of Bakhmut). isw.pub/UkrWar022523

12/ #Avdiivka - Donetsk City

Russian forces continued offensive operations along the western outskirts of #Donetsk City on February 25.

13/ The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensive actions near #Avdiivka and within 36km southwest of Avdiivka near Vodyane, Pervomaiske, Nevelske, Marinka, and Novomykhailivka.

14/ Geolocated footage published on February 25 indicates that Russian forces likely made marginal advances southwest of #Avdiivka and near Pobieda (32km southwest of Avdiivka).

15/ Western #Donetsk

Russian forces continued offensive operations in western Donetsk Oblast on February 25. Representative of the Ukrainian Tavriisk operational direction Oleksiy Dmytrashkivyskyi reported that Russian forces conducted attacks near #Vuhledar.

16/ According to Dmytrashkivyskyi Russian forces have not changed their tactics near #Vuhledar but there has been an increase in Russian forces conducting assaults without armored support...

17/ ... and even some instances of armored personnel carriers driving infantry to the frontline for dismounted assaults and then withdrawing.

18/ Dymtrashkivyskyi also reported that Russian forces transferred an unspecified number of personnel by bus from #Melitopol to the area to replenish the 155th and 40th Naval Infantry Brigades.

19/ ISW has previously reported that 43 buses of #Wagner fighters arrived in #Melitopol possibly representing one or two battalions’ worth of personnel, and Russian forces may have since transferred this group of Wagner personnel to the #Vuhledar area.

20/ ISW has not observed any visual confirmation of #Wagner fighters operating in the #Vuhledar area, and Russian forces could also have transferred mobilized personnel to replenish the severely degraded naval infantry formations. isw.pub/UkrWar022523