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​UK Defense Intelligence: Russia Renews Attempts to Advance South of Izium, Kharkiv Region

Ukraine's warriors are ready to meet invaders
Ukraine's warriors are ready to meet invaders

British Defense Ministry released latest Defense Intelligence update stating that Russia has likely renewed its efforts to advance south of Izium, with the goal of advancing deeper into the Donetsk region in the last 48 hours

According to the British Defense Ministry, Russia’s goal is to advance deeper into Donetsk Oblast, as well as to “envelop the Sievierodonetsk Pocket from the north.”

Also, the Ministry has released a warning as regards humanitarian corridors, which Russian and separatist officials have claimed they are attempting to establish for Siverodonetsk residents since June 14, Ukrinform reports.

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UK Defense Intelligence, Russia Renews Attempts to Advance South of Izium, Kharkiv Region, Defense Express

Options to leave the town are limited by the destruction of bridges, but Russia’s proposed route would take them towards the town of Svatova, deeper inside Russian-occupied territory, the report warns.

It is noted that Russia has precedent, both earlier in the Ukraine campaign and in Syria, of using unilaterally declared ‘humanitarian’ corridors as a mechanism to manipulate the battlespace and impose the forced transfer of populations.

The current situation in the area of Izium, Severodonetsk and Popasna, Defense Express
The current situation in the area of Izium, Severodonetsk and Popasna

Ukrainian civilians trapped in Siverodonetsk “are likely to be suspicious of using the proposed corridor.”

“If trapped civilians don’t take up the offer of exiting via a corridor, Russians will likely claim justification in making less of a distinction between them and any Ukrainian military targets in the area,” the update concludes.

Map showing the current situation in Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. Land in red is controlled by russia. During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Sievierodonetsk came under attack from russian forces, and the battle for the city has been ongoing since 6 May 2022. Sievierodonetsk and the neighbouring Lysychansk are the only notable parts of the Luhansk oblast that remained under Ukrainian control

As Defense Express reported, russia to deploy ancient T-62M for storming Sievierodonetsk - you can find the article with a video here.

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