Ukraine Update

March 13, 2023—based on reporting from the Washington Post

Key Developments

• Yevgeniy Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner Group, stated that the situation in Bakhmut is "very difficult." He reported that battles were more difficult, with more artillery and tanks being deployed against them as they approached the city center.
• The Institute for the Study of War suggests that Russia's military leadership may be using the Wagner Group to bear the brunt of casualties in the battle for the eastern Ukrainian city, which could weaken Prigozhin’s political influence within Russia.
• According to Russia's Defense Ministry, over 220 Ukrainian servicemen have been killed in the eastern Donetsk region in the past day. Additionally, several combat vehicles and a long-range artillery gun were destroyed.

Battleground updates

• Electricity was restored to areas of Ukraine on Sunday after an attack with hypersonic missiles left them without power last week.
• Police in Moldova stopped a group of Russian-backed "diversionists" who were planning to cause unrest during demonstrations against the country's new pro-Western government.

From our correspondents

• The battle in Bakhmut is ongoing and reportedly much more lethal than other locations in the past year. Russian troops have cut off almost all roads, and fierce fighting is happening.
• The only way to leave the embattled eastern city is through Highway T0504. Ukrainian soldiers report that Russia's forces have attempted to destroy the highway with artillery and force their enemy into the mud.