Ukrainian forces are advancing south of Bakhmut, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

In its latest intelligence update, the American thinktank said geolocated footage published on 22 September indicated that Ukrainian forces advanced southeast of the village of Klishchiivka near Bakhmut and were reportedly advancing in western Zaporizhzhia.

The Ukrainian general staff had also reported that Ukrainian forces were “exhausting and inflicting losses on Russian forces along the entire front”.

We reported earlier (see post at 11.58am) that the deployment of heavy weaponry provided by Western nations on the outskirts of Bakhmut was inflicting significant damage on enemy lines, according to Ukrainian commanders speaking to Reuters news agency.

Unit commander Oleksandr emphasised the pivotal role heavy artillery plays in Ukraine’s armed forces, including the Polish-manufactured Krab gun and the US-made M109 self-propelled howitzer. 

He also stressed that even a single artillery piece could completely alter the course of a battle, effectively halting enemy advances.

For context: Ukrainian soldiers are vowing to take back the shattered city of Bakhmut but face a long, hard slog after encountering fierce Russian resistance.

Bakhmut, captured by Russian forces in May, is Moscow’s only big prize in more than a year of the war’s bloodiest fighting, described by both sides as a meat grinder. 

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that Kyiv would retake the city following the capture last week of Andriivka and Klishchiivka to the south.