During his daily briefing posted on Twitterthe British Ministry of Defense shared the latest analyzes of its intelligence services regarding the Russian invasion.
The successes of the Ukrainian forces on the ground this weekend – and in particular their counter-offensive in the Kharkiv region – “have significant implications for Russia’s overall operational design”and for the morale of its soldiers in the field, let London know. “The majority of Russian forces are most likely forced to prioritize emergency defensive actions. The – already limited – confidence that deployed Russian troops have in their senior leadership is likely to deteriorate further” adds the British Ministry of Defence.
According to this same source, Russia has probably ordered the withdrawal of its troops from the entire occupied region of Kharkiv Oblast, west of the Oskil River. “Isolated pockets of resistance remain in this area, but since Wednesday Ukraine has reclaimed territory at least twice the size of Greater London”or more than 3,100 square kilometers, almost the size of the French department of Rhône.
In the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, Russia appears to be struggling to get troops in reserve across the Dnipro River. The initial objective was to get them to the front line, located on the west bank of the river. But “an improvised floating bridge that Russia put in place two weeks ago remains incomplete”notes the British Ministry of Defence. “Ukrainian long-range artillery is now likely hitting Dnipro crossings so frequently that Russia cannot carry out repairs to damaged road bridges,” adds the same source.