Sat 02 September 2023:
Russia risks splitting its troops as it seeks to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough in Ukraine’s south, the UK Ministry of Defence says.
In its latest intelligence update, the ministry said Ukrainian forces continued to take offensive action on the Orikhiv axis in southern Ukraine, with units reaching the first Russian main defensive line.
“Russian forces, primarily composed of the 58th combined arms army and Russian airborne forces elements, seek to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive whilst maintaining their own offensive on the northern axis around Kupiansk,” said the ministry’s update, posted on X/Twitter.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 02 September 2023
Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/nn0rHmtwtn
🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/2fmbkCBLNs
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) September 2, 2023
The ministry said Russian forces were probably seeking to distract Ukraine from its counteroffensive, forcing it to divide its forces between Orikhiv and Kupiansk.
Given that Russia has made modest gains near Kupiansk since the Ukrainian counteroffensive began in June, they are highly likely seeking to capitalise on these by continuing to resource the axis.
However, Russia risks dividing its forces as it seeks to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough.
Ukraine Has Made ‘notable Progress’ In Offensive WH says
Ukraine’s forces in recent days have made “notable progress” against Russian troops in their southern offensive, the White House said Friday.
Asked about criticism that Kyiv’s southern campaign against occupying Russian forces has not advanced much in three months, White House national security spokesman John Kirby conceded that the fight has gone slower than Ukraine itself had hoped.
“That said, we have noted over the last 72 hours or so some notable progress by Ukrainian armed forces on that southern line,” Kirby told reporters.
“They have achieved some success against that second line of Russian defenses,” he said.
SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES
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