Russia-Ukraine war live: Russian retreat in Bakhmut highlights ‘shortage of credible combat units’, say UK officials

Retreating Russian brigade ‘dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness’, says British Ministry of Defence

• What we know on day 444 of the invasion

Ukrainian forces have regained at least a kilometre of territory in Bakhmut amid a Russian withdrawal that reflects its “severe shortage of credible combat units”, the latest UK intelligence briefing has said.

The Ministry of Defence said that over the past four days, elements of Russia’s 72nd separate motor rifle brigade (72 SMRB) likely withdrew “in bad order” from their positions on the southern flank of the Bakhmut operation.

72 SMRB is an element of Russia’s 3rd Army Corps, a formation created in autumn 2023 and dogged with allegations of poor morale and limited combat effectiveness.

Its deployment to such a demanding and operationally important sector highlights Russia’s severe shortage of credible combat units.