Russia and Ukraine are executing tactical withdrawals in various areas of eastern Ukraine, for different reasons for each army, but the main goal is to reduce their own personnel losses in areas where there is very heavy fighting by each side to achieve victories and significant advances.
Russia abandons the idea of occupying large areas of eastern Ukraine where large Ukrainian military contingents are located, while the Ukrainians withdraw from Bakhmut to protect their supply lines that the Russian army could cut off. and from that point their resistance in the region is substantially endangered.
Ukrainian forces are also likely conducting a controlled withdrawal southwest of Popasna near Bakhmut to protect Ukrainian supply lines against Russian offensives in the southeast of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast, the ISW wrote.
- The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) May 25, 2022
