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Ladimir Putin’s forces are losing firepower and allowing Ukrainian troops to retake large parts of the city of Severodonetsk, which was about to be captured, military experts said on Monday.
The Institute for the Study of War highlighted the “vulnerabilities” that are being created among Putin’s “defensive efforts” as more of his troops are drawn to key battles in the eastern region of the United States. Donbas in Ukraine.
In its latest briefing on the conflict, the Washington-based think tank said: “Ukrainian forces continued to conduct limited and localized but successful counterattacks against Russian positions throughout Ukraine on June 5 (Sunday). including the recovery of large areas of Severodonetsk, the city of Luhansk Oblast (province) the Kremlin has concentrated most of its forces on the capture.
“Ukrainian counteroffensive pressure is likely to continue to draw the attention of Russian forces to Luhansk Oblast and will therefore leave vulnerabilities in Russian defensive efforts in Kharkiv Oblast and along the southern axis.
“The ability of Ukrainian forces to successfully counterattack in Severodonetsk, the Kremlin’s current priority area of operations, further indicates a decline in the combat power of Russian forces in Ukraine.”
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It is speculated that the Russian army is running out of key artillery shells to bomb the city.
The ISW added: “A Russian Telegram channel claimed that Ukrainian troops launched a counterattack north of the city of Kharkiv, indicating that Ukrainian forces continue to press Russian defensive lines near the Russian border.
“It is likely that Ukrainian forces will be trying to take advantage of Russia’s continued attention in Severodonetsk to carry out counterattacks on other lines of progress.”
Meanwhile, Britain announced on Monday that it would supply Ukraine with multi-launch rocket systems that could hit targets up to 50 miles away, in a move that was coordinated with the United States in response to the Russian invasion.
Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said British support for Ukraine would change as Russia’s tactics evolved, and explained the gift of the M270 multi-launch systems, which are believed to be sent at least three initially.
“These high-capacity multi-launch rocket systems will allow our Ukrainian friends to better protect themselves against the brutal use of long-range artillery, which Putin’s forces (Russian President Vladimir) have used indiscriminately to flatten cities, “Wallace said.
U.S. President Joe Biden said last week that Washington would supply M142, or HIMARS, highly mobile artillery rocket systems to Ukraine after receiving assurances from Kyiv that it would not be used to hit targets inside. of Russian territory.
Putin said the shipments were not “anything new”, but warned that there would be a response if the United States supplied more powerful ammunition for HIMARS systems, with the first attacks on Kyiv for weeks during the war. of the week.
The U.S. Department of Defense said it was supplying Ukraine with four M142 HIMARS systems along with the guided multi-launch rocket system, which it said was more than 40 miles long.
The UK said Ukrainian troops would be trained on how to use the new launchers in the UK, after previously announcing that it would train Ukrainian personnel to use armored vehicles.
In its latest intelligence update, the London Ministry of Defense said: “In the early hours of June 5, Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles launched from the air hit the railway infrastructure in Kyiv. , probably in an attempt to disrupt the supply of Western military equipment to front-line Ukrainian units.
“In the Donbas, heavy fighting continues in the disputed city of Sieverodonetsk and Russian forces continue to push towards Sloviansk as part of their attempt to encircle Ukrainian forces.”
He added: “At sea, after the loss of the Moskva cruise ship in April, Russian forces have likely moved several air defense assets to Snake Island west of the Black Sea, including the SA-15 and SA-22.
“These weapons are likely to be used to provide air defense to Russian naval vessels operating around Snake Island.
“Russia’s activity on the island of snakes contributes to the blockade of the Ukrainian coast and hinders the resumption of maritime trade, including Ukrainian grain exports.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly speech to the nation that he had visited two nearby cities on the front lines of battles against the Russian army after meeting with troops in the Zaporizhzhya region.
“After that I went with the head of (my) office in the east. We were in Lysychansk and Soledar,” he said.
“I’m proud of everyone I met, of everyone I shook hands with, of everyone I connected with and I had expressed my support for them.”