Загальні бойові втрати противника з 24.02.22 по 18.05.23 орієнтовно склали / The total combat losses of the enemy from 24.02.22 to 18.05.23 were approximately pic.twitter.com/ODK95CTDWv

— Генеральний штаб ЗСУ (@GeneralStaffUA) May 18, 2023

It’s becoming clearer now what is happening.

— Mike Martin 🔶 (@ThreshedThought) May 17, 2023

This could either end up in a double envelopment of Russian forces (note for one of the variants of a double envelopment the Ukrainians should withdraw their centre and push on their flanks - in slow time this is actually what is happening).

— Mike Martin 🔶 (@ThreshedThought) May 17, 2023

And so by using a relatively small amount of resources, they are fixing an EVEN greater number of Russian forces into the Bahkmut area.

— Mike Martin 🔶 (@ThreshedThought) May 17, 2023

This means that they have less Russian forces to deal with elsewhere.

Like Kherson, where they are steadily consolidating their position.

Or Tokmak, where they struck AGAIN yesterday.

— Mike Martin 🔶 (@ThreshedThought) May 17, 2023

1/6 Elements of the 10th Tank regiment part of the newly formed 3rd 🇷🇺 army corps, arrived around 13th of may in the area of the town of Odradivka (48.494300,38.014800). They had previously been deployed near Avdiivka, were they were involved a multiple failed frontal assaults pic.twitter.com/ufJvzG4Wqc

— NLwartracker (@NLwartracker) May 18, 2023

3/6 Their arrival in the area south of Bakhmut is likely an attempt to stop Ukrainian advances in this area.The unit took up positions along the T0513 road between Odradivka and Optyne. Almost immediatly after their arrival shelling and drone attacks by 🇺🇦 forces took their toll. pic.twitter.com/fRZ5WEb22g

— NLwartracker (@NLwartracker) May 18, 2023

6/6 🇺🇦 forces are moving slowly as not to overstretch their lines on both sides of Bakhmut, so next weeks will be crucial to the fate of Russian/Wagner sources inside the city, if 🇺🇦 can move beyond the T0513, things are starting to look grim for these forces.#SlavaUkraïni 🇺🇦🇺🇦

— NLwartracker (@NLwartracker) May 18, 2023

“Russian troops withdrew half a kilometer in the northern part northern Bakhmut and opened the flanks,” leader of Wagner Prigozhin said. He also appealed to Shoigu and Gerasimov with a request not to give up the settlement of Sacco I Vantsetti and to keep it at any cost. pic.twitter.com/xs112IX1OP

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 18, 2023

Prigozhin's mouthpiece channel admin GREY ZONE watches a video by the 3rd Assault brigade assaulting a Russian defensive position near Bakhmut which resulted in 300m of progress in 16 minutes. Unable to understand how the enemy [Ukrainians] can calmly send vehicles and infantry… pic.twitter.com/vKzKMAXjyJ

— Dmitri (@wartranslated) May 18, 2023

3rd Separate Assault Brigade in Bakhmut is claiming significant success today, up to 700m of territory retaken along a 2km front.

50 Ru KIA, 100 wounded and 4 prisoners.

The counterattack involved the 1st Assault and 1st Mechanized battalions. pic.twitter.com/lcvLzMJBVC

— Artoir (@ItsArtoir) May 18, 2023

On the day of the deportation of the Crimean Tatars, the State Duma adopted a law on the forced "relocation" of residents of the occupied territories of Ukraine.

The amendments allow detaining residents of regions where martial law has been introduced for 30 days in case they… pic.twitter.com/BuNgFOaip6

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 18, 2023

Josep Borrell, head of the EU diplomacy has proposed a significant addition of $3.5 billion to the EU fund used to fund military aid to Ukraine https://t.co/3EZt5oaGh7

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 18, 2023

The error was the result of assigning a higher than warranted value on weaponry that was taken from U.S. stocks and then shipped to Ukraine, two senior defense officials say - Reuters

— Faytuks News Δ (@Faytuks) May 18, 2023

Norway, in collaboration with the UK, is supplying Ukraine with 8 long-range MLRS systems and 3 "Arthur" artillery guidance radars, the Minister of Defense of Norway reported. https://t.co/PIsYbVqc1t pic.twitter.com/wYByI0tvLq

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 18, 2023

#Ukraine/#Russia 🇺🇦🇷🇺:

Completion of the rotation of 🇺🇦#Ukrainian soldiers who underwent training in the 🇨🇿#Czech Republic.

Have a safe journey home and good luck on the battlefield! pic.twitter.com/kqppmiDCin

— 𝕻𝖗𝖆𝖎𝖘𝖊 𝕿𝖍𝖊 𝕾𝖙𝖊𝖕𝖍 (@praisethesteph) May 18, 2023

“Both pilots were able to successfully land the aircraft from an overhead simulated flameout (SFO) pattern This is a relatively technical skill that must be continually practiced throughout an F-16 pilot’s career.”

— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) May 18, 2023

I think this is what's happening, as does Rybar and Murz. Russia has moved a large amount of artillery and other reserves to the Bakhmut area, but it doesn't appear Ukraine has committed any of its new brigades to the area.https://t.co/IIaAu8kLMqhttps://t.co/QuRRk4Msdr https://t.co/ddXylWDiIo pic.twitter.com/XkdriEq2d8

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 18, 2023

Of the Russian units that were pushed back over the past week on the flanks of Bakhmut, the 4th brigade was previously on the Kreminna front, and the 72nd and and 200th MRB were previously in the Vuhledar area. 3/

— Rob Lee (@RALee85) May 18, 2023