Russia claims to have repelled Ukraine's offensive north of Bakhmut

Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces repelled Ukrainian attacks in the area north of the city of Bakhmut.

"The enemy launched attacks on a front line of more than 95 km in the Soledar tactical direction. The Ukrainian armed forces launched 26 offensives with 1,000 soldiers, up to 40 tanks and other military and specialized equipment," the Russian Defense Ministry announced on May 12.

The agency claimed that Russian forces repelled the entire Ukrainian offensive, holding the line. Ukraine lost more than 540 soldiers, 8 tanks and more than 20 armored vehicles of various types in the unsuccessful attack.

The city of Soledar is located about 10 km northeast of Bakhmut. Soledar covers an area of over 12.3 km2 with a pre-war population of nearly 10,500 people and contains large salt and gypsum mines. Russian forces took full control of Soledar in January.

Russian T-72 tanks prepare to attack Ukrainian positions on January 23. Photo: RIA Novosti — Russian T-72 tanks prepare to attack Ukrainian positions on January 23. Photo: *RIA Novosti*

The Russian Defense Ministry said "assault detachments continue to advance to seize the vicinity" of the city of Bakhmut, while airborne troops (VDV) provide flank support and prevent a Ukrainian counterattack.

The agency rarely refers directly to the units of the private military corporation Wagner fighting in Bakhmut, instead often using the term "assault detachment".

The announcement was made by the Russian Defense Ministry after Ukraine announced a two-kilometer advance near Bakhmut. Ukraine claimed to have inflicted heavy casualties on Russian forces and "not lost any positions in Bakhmut this week."

Several Russian military bloggers said on May 11 that Ukraine was attacking south and north of Bakhmut in order to "create breakthroughs in many places". Russia denied this information, affirming that the situation on the battlefield was under control.

The battle for Bakhmut has been a stalemate for weeks as Russia and Ukraine both focus their efforts on the battle. Ukraine sees Bakhmut as key to containing Russian forces in the Donbass region and preventing them from advancing further west.