 Russians surrounded Bakhmut from three sides. Russian troops continued their offensive operations in and around Bakhmut during the last day and advanced towards the southern and southwestern parts of the city. This is reported by the US-based Institute for the Study of War, ISW. American analysts say that Russian forces are two kilometers away from the city of Bakhmut in the Khromov district. Ukraine's armed forces have acknowledged that the Russian army and private military company Wagner have made progress in their efforts to capture Bakhmut. The analysis also draws attention to the increase in the support of the regular units of the Russian armed forces to the Wagner group. The increase in Wagner attacks is due to the fact that regular troops have been entrenched in the north and south of the city to protect against potential Ukrainian counter-attacks. The ISW said that Yevgeny Prigozin's militia was gaining ground in Bakhmut. The battle for Bakhmut has been going on for several months and is the bloodiest since the war began more than 13 months ago. According to the information provided by the general staff of Ukraine, the attacks of the Russian invaders were repelled in Oryakov Vasilyevka and Bogdanivka districts 11 kilometers northwest of Bakhmut and in Ivanovsk, Predecin and Ozaryanivka districts 16 kilometers northwest of Bakhmut. The general staff confirmed a partially successful Russian attack on the center of Bakhmut but without details. It is also reported that Bakhmut, which was attacked by the Russians from the first day of the war, is now surrounded on three sides.