The UK’s Defence Ministry made the assessment in its latest intelligence update on the war in Ukraine, published on social media on Tuesday.
Russia aims to seize all of Donetsk region: UK
The British analysts wrote: “It is highly likely that Russia has been attempting to re-start major offensive operations in Ukraine since early January 2023. Its operational goal is almost certainly to capture the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk Oblast” in eastern Ukraine.
According to the UK Ministry of Defence, “Russian forces have only managed to gain several hundred metres of territory per week.”
Lack of munitions, manoeuvre units
In the view of the British analysts, “This is almost certainly because Russia now lacks the munitions and manoeuvre units required for successful offensives.”
In such circumstances, Russia’s “Senior commanders likely make plans requiring undermanned, inexperienced units to achieve unrealistic objectives due to political and professional pressure,” the UK Ministry of Defence stated.
Russian forces 'unlikely to substantially affect' outcome of war in coming weeks
Looking ahead, the British analysts predicted: “Russian leaders will likely continue to demand sweeping advances.”
They stressed: “It remains unlikely that Russia can build up the forces needed to substantially affect the outcome of the war within the coming weeks.”
Tuesday is day 349 of Russia’s war against Ukraine.
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Source: UK Ministry of Defence, The Guardian