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Ladimir Putin’s forces are being “increasingly emptied” by the scale of his attack on Ukraine, which is only achieving limited success, British defense chiefs said on Tuesday.
They noted that it was launching a “large number” of missiles that are typically used to target sites of “strategic importance,” but that are used to gain “tactical advantage.”
They argued that the combat effectiveness of their military units was becoming so degraded that it is “probably unsustainable in the long run.”
Putin’s troops took control of the eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk over the weekend.
They are now trying to capture their twin city of Lysychansk, across the Siverskyi Donets River from Severodonetsk, in the eastern Luhansk province in the Donbas region.
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In its latest intelligence update, the London Ministry of Defense said: “Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their positions on higher ground in the city of Lysychansk, after retreating from Severodonetsk. Ukrainian forces continue to alter Russian command and control with successful attacks behind Russian lines “.
He added: “During June 24-26, Russia launched unusually intense waves of attacks on Ukraine with long-range missiles. It is very likely that these weapons included the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and AS missiles. -23rd most modern KODIAK, fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace.
A destroyed Russian tank begins to rust in the forest near Kyiv
/ Getty Images
“These weapons were designed to take on targets of strategic importance, but Russia continues to spend them in large numbers to gain a tactical advantage.”
The British defense chiefs also stressed: “Similarly, it deployed the basic elements of six different armies, but only achieved tactical successes in Sieverodonetsk. The Russian armed forces are increasingly empty.
“They currently accept a level of degraded combat effectiveness, which is likely to be unsustainable in the long run.”
Britain, America and other allies are fighting in an information war against the Kremlin, so their intelligence reports should be treated with caution and often highlight Russian failures or shortcomings instead. of the losses of Ukraine.
However, the Russian propaganda machine often appears to totally disagree with the truth, including the suggestion that a missile attack that hit a crowded supermarket in Kremenchuk, in central Ukraine, was an act of provocation for part of the forces of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
More than 1,000 people were inside when two Russian missiles hit the Kremenchuk shopping center, Poltava, Zelensky said.
The United Kingdom has condemned the attack as an “act of terrorism” by Putin’s army.
Emergency crews continued to search for survivors among the ruins of the mall.
At least 18 people died and 25 hospitalized, while about 36 were missing, according to civic leaders.
Meanwhile, Russian troops and their allies from the Lugansk Republic were advancing on Lysychansk and street battles had erupted, said the ambassador to Moscow of the Lugansk People’s Republic, recognized only by Russia.
Ukrainian forces still controlled Lysychansk, but their loss was possible as Russia poured resources into the fight, Luhansk Province Governor Serhiy Gaidai said.
The Russian army has also again bombed the city of Kharkiv in the east, hitting apartment buildings and an elementary school, killing five people and wounding 22, including children.