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Russia failing to meet strategic aims in Ukraine: UK gov’t

03.06.2022 09:30
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its 100th day, the Kremlin hasn’t yet achieved any of its strategic objectives, the UK government said on Friday.
A Russian serviceman guards the entrance to the Luhansk Power Station in Shchastia, Luhansk region, Ukraine, in April 2022.
A Russian serviceman guards the entrance to the Luhansk Power Station in Shchastia, Luhansk region, Ukraine, in April 2022.PAP/EPA/Sergei Ilnitsky

The assessment was provided by the British Ministry of Defence, Polish state news agency PAP reported.  

Failure of initial plan, focus on Donbas

In a daily intelligence update, the UK defence officials wrote: “Today marks the 100th day since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Staunch Ukrainian resistance and the failure to secure Hostomel airfield in the first 24 hours led to Russian offensive operations being repulsed.”

They added: “Following the failure of the initial plan, through false planning assumptions and poor tactical execution, Russia adapted its operational design to focus on the Donbas.”

Russia's strategic objectives 'not achieved'

The UK defence officials went on to state: “Russia is now achieving tactical success in the Donbas.” 

However, they added, “Russia has achieved these recent tactical successes at a considerable resource cost, and by concentrating force and fires on a single part of the overall campaign.”

“Russia has not been able to generate manoeuvre or movement on other fronts or axes,” British intelligence officials said.

They added: “Measured against Russia’s original plan, none of the strategic objectives have been achieved."

“In order for Russia to achieve any form of success will require continued huge investment of manpower and equipment, and is likely to take considerable further time,” the UK defence officials concluded.

(pm)

Source: PAP, bbc.com