ISW: Russians troops retreat near Bakhmut

The lack of reinforcements and rotations to the close rear for rest is forcing Russian troops to retreat without the opportunity to regain lost positions on the Zaporozhzhia front and south of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region.

The absence of reinforcements from the invaders south of Bakhmut is likely threatening serious consequences for the entire Russian grouping in this area, Caliber.Az reports, citing the latest report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Ukrainian forces conducted counteroffensive operations on at least three sectors of the front on July 19 and made gains in these areas. Geolocated footage published on July 19 indicates that Ukrainian forces made gains near Andriivka (10km southwest of Bakhmut),” the report says.

According to the Ukrainian General Staff, Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations north and south of Bakhmut City and forced Russian forces to retreat from positions northeast of Orikhovo-Vasylivka (11km northwest of Bakhmut).
The General Staff also said that Ukrainian forces continued offensive operations in the Berdyansk (Zaporizhia-Donetsk Oblast border area) and Melitopol (western Zaporizhia Oblast) directions.

Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces Spokesperson Major Valerii Shershen stated that Ukrainian forces advanced more than a kilometre in an unspecified area of the Melitopol direction.

Key Findings:

- Russian forces launched a massive missile strike on port and grain infrastructure in southern Ukraine, which is likely to further emphasise Russia's objections to renewing the grain deal.

- South Africa's presidential office announced that Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in August 2023 in person.

- On 19 July, an explosion at a Russian firing range in the occupied Kirov district (Islam-Terek) in southeastern Crimea disrupted the use of the Tavrida highway, which connects eastern Crimea with Sevastopol.

- Ukrainian forces continued offensives near Kupyansk, near Kremenna, near Bakhmut and on the Avdeevka-Donetsk line.

- Russian troops continued offensive operations at the Kupyansk-Svatovo-Kremenna line and near Avdiivka.