Update from
yesterday.
Update in the Invasion - May 18th, 2023 - Day 448
Battle of Bakhmut - Day 291 - Russia seizes the Citadel and now controls 98% of Bakhmut
Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast - Day 137 of urban combat within the city
In West Bakhmut, Wagner Group PMC operators and VDV paratroopers have seized "Domino," the last Ukrainian-held area of the "Citadel" complex, an area of commie-blocks that is considered the last most important fortified Ukrainian stronghold in Bakhmut.
- With the capture of "Domino" and the "Citadel," the most difficult part for Russian operations in Bakhmut is done, freeing Wagner PMC operators and VDV paratroopers to clear the rest of the city. With the capture of the "Citadel," the Russians are able to use the height advantage from the captured commie-blocks against approaching Ukrainian forces from Ukrainian-held Ivanivskye and Chasiv Yar in the west if they were to start a counter-offensive.
- In addition, Russian troops seized the Children's Hospital and the storage area, bringing the intersection of the supply routes (dirt road and O0506) that Ukraine uses to evacuate troops or to supply the AFU garrison in Bakhmut under Russian control. They also took new areas adjacent to the Industrial College.

Suriyak (with custom edits)
However, just because the "Citadel" is captured does not mean that Russia controls all of Bakhmut:
- The last Ukrainian stronghold to be captured is the commie-blocks next to the destroyed MiG monument. Once Russia seizes this stronghold, Russia will have effective control over all districts in Bakhmut, giving them de facto control over the whole city.
- The last stronghold is adjacent to the Sovkhoz District in Southwest Bakhmut, the only pocket of Ukrainian resistance in the city, and if the Wagnerites and VDV paratroopers captures the district and the stronghold, Russia controls the entire city of Bakhmut proper.

Custom-created (with Remylind23 and Suriyak as sources)
The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are desperate and have attempted to storm the flanks as Russia now has the momentum due to the Russians being able to send their forces anywhere in the Bakhmut frontline to reinforce and push the Ukrainians back.
- In the northern flank of Bakhmut, the AFU, despite a pushback in an assault from the west to take the hamlet of Sakki i Vantsetti from Vasyukivka, they managed to capture the northern outskirts of the hamlet to the Vasyukivka River (more of a stream/brook) from the north. (1)
- In the southern flank of Bakhmut, the AFU have managed to steadily push the Russians out of the lowlands adjacent to the Russian-held heights surrounding the Russian-held village of Klishchiivka. In addition, the AFU has seized all territory west of the canal that is in the west of Bakhmut. (2)

(1) - Suriyak (with custom edits) | 
(2) - Suriyak (with custom edits) |
Russia now controls 98% of Bakhmut, while Ukraine controls the last 2%. Informants within Wagner Group to pro-Russian reporter Remylind23 stated that at this pace,
Russia will take the rest of Bakhmut overnight, though Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Wagner Group PMC, claims that is too optimistic and it with take maybe more than 2 days for Bakhmut to fall.

Suriyak
War footage
Destruction of a Russian-operated FAB-500M62 aerial bomb on a high-rise in the "Citadel" that was used by the AFU as a fortified position.
Wagner PMC operators capture a British-made Ukrainian-operated FV103 Spartan APC.
Recent video footage shows Russian artillery shelling Ukrainian troops in the houses behind Domino district (48°35'06.2"N 37°58'00.8"E). These kind of houses and the high buildings close to MIG monument are the last positions Ukrainians maintain in Bakhmut city. - Suriyak
Reports
Sources