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Military Overview of Ukraine May 16-17

Military Overview of Ukraine May 16-17
Situation in Bakhmut after the capture of the Gnezdo area by the Wagner PMC fighters

By INTEL-DROP May 17, 2023

Another day on the front of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict was characterized by massive clashes in various parts of the front.

In the west of Bakhmut, units of the Wagner PMC made significant progress. According to the leadership, the Gnezdo stronghold has completely passed under the control of Russian forces. The Russian command is trying to stop the advance of the AFU on the flanks of the Bakhmut grouping.

Massive strikes are launched against the enemy’s rear areas. Two road bridges were destroyed in Chasovoy Yar and Krasnoe. PMC Wagner cuts off the supply of the AFU grouping from the western districts of Bakhmut.

In the first case, the strike was carried out using a guided missile “Krasnopol”. In the second, near Krasnoe, using the “Smelchak” mine.

Such a measure was particularly timely against the background of the unblocking of the road from Chasov Yar to Bakhmut due to the abandonment of the positions of the Russian Armed Forces near Bogdanivka.

Russian troops carried out massive strikes on Ukrainian army facilities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Cherkasy region. The attack involved the use of drones and missiles of various types. In Kyiv, the main targets of the strikes were anti-aircraft defense position areas. Despite active opposition from Western air defenses, at least one Patriot SAM system was destroyed.

There were also strikes on the AFU grouping in Mykolaiv. The main AFU positions were hit near the Zorya-Mashproekt plant. At the same time, Ukraine reports no damage to infrastructure facilities.

Hits on Mykolaiv:

Ukrainian formations used a drone strike to attack the town of Klintsy in the Bryansk Region. Russian air defense destroyed the UAV, with debris damaging several vehicles. Another Ukrainian drone dropped an explosive device on police vehicles in the village of Khoromne.

As a result of the detonation of the munition, two service vehicles were damaged. In the Belgorod region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces shelled the villages of Stary Khutor and Nizhniye Melnitsy in the Valley district. Presumably, the strike was caused by incendiary shells from a Grad rocket launcher.

At present, it appears that Ukraine is restraining Russian forces in Bakhmut in order to keep them on a certain front, while Ukrainian forces are probing other areas. It also appears that both sides are using tricks and games to deceive the other before a major operation.

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