Russia has only achieved “marginal gains” during its assault along the north of the frontline in Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts, British defence chiefs have said.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) says Russia is using “disinformation” to exaggerate these small military gains in Ukraine.
In its latest intelligence update, the MoD said: “In recent days there has been an increase in artillery fire along the north of the front line, in Luhansk and Kharkiv oblasts. This has likely been accompanied by some increase in Russian small-unit assaults, but the situation has been obfuscated by Russian disinformation.”
They added: “Russia has likely only achieved marginal gains, but its renewed activity in the north highlights its importance to the Kremlin, when it is concurrently facing significant pressure in the southern Zaporizhzhia sector.”
The MoD said that Russian strategists are trying “to create a buffer zone around Luhansk Oblast, the possession of which Russia almost certainly considers one of its fundamental objectives of the war”.
It comes after an alleged Ukrainian strike on an ammunition depot in Crimea on Saturday.
The attack, blamed on Ukraine by Russian officials, triggered a massive explosion and led to the evacuation of civilians in a three-mile radius.
Russia responded by halting traffic and rail services across the Kerch bridge, which links the Ukrainian peninsula to Russia and plays a key role in supporting its occupying forces.
The attack destroyed an oil depot and arms warehouses in the Krasnohvardiiske area, a week after a strike on the bridge 100 miles away.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has described the Kerch bridge - also known as the Crimea Bridge - as a target which must be “neutralised”.
