Recent observations indicate a reduction in russian military activity in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions of Ukraine as they relocate part of its ground forces to other parts of the frontline. The reshuffle of troops is highly likely part of an attempt to increase pressure on priority axes, including in the Donetsk region, UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Open source reporting indicates that in the last two days, Ukrainian forces successfully conducted counterattacks to the west of Kupiansk, an important logistical hub in the Kharkiv region. Albeit under Ukrainian control, this city has been facing constant attempts of encirclement by russian forces over the past month.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: Satellite Imagery Confirms Ukrainian Strike on russian Cargo Ship in the Caspian Sea
In the northern Donetsk region over the past ten days, russian forces have advanced through and are contesting the Serebrianskyi forest. The russians have consolidated positions along the adjacent Siverskyi Donets river, serving as a natural defensive barrier.
The russian Ground Forces are almost certainly using the forest as partial cover against unmanned aerial systems with a likely eventual objective towards Yampil, approximately 10 km west of their current position. If Yampil is captured, it will likely serve as a potential launch point for assaults on the city of Lyman, a key rail logistics hub 9 km northwest of Yampil.
Pokrovsk likely remains russia's priority axis, and the focus for the largest proportion of russian assaults relative to the rest of the front line. Russian forces are using a variety of assault methods, including motorcycle swarming and small group probing attacks, in attempts to infiltrate Ukrainian positions.
As Defense Express previously, the Ukrainian Government officials have stated that russia is conscripting young Ukrainians into the russian military once they turn 18, significant numbers of which were abducted from illegally invaded and temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories as children.
Some are then reportedly being forced to take a direct part in the conflict against their fellow Ukrainians.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: at Least 19,500 Children Taken from Ukraine Face Forced Indoctrination and Conscription into russia's Army
