Russia-Ukraine war live: Moscow risks dividing its forces to stop Ukrainian breakthrough, says UK

Russia risks dividing its forces to stop Ukrainian breakthrough, says UK MoD

Russia risks splitting its troops as it seeks to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough in Ukraine’s south, the UK Ministry of Defence says.

In its latest intelligence update, the ministry said Ukrainian forces continued to take offensive action on the Orikhiv axis in southern Ukraine, with units reaching the first Russian main defensive line.

“Russian forces, primarily composed of the 58th combined arms army and Russian airborne forces elements, seek to halt the Ukrainian counteroffensive whilst maintaining their own offensive on the northern axis around Kupiansk,” said the ministry’s update, posted on X/Twitter.

A school director in front of a school library destroyed by shelling in Kupiansk, Ukraine, last week. Photograph: Bram Janssen/AP

The ministry said Russian forces were probably seeking to distract Ukraine from its counteroffensive, forcing it to divide its forces between Orikhiv and Kupiansk.

Given that Russia has made modest gains near Kupiansk since the Ukrainian counteroffensive began in June, they are highly likely seeking to capitalise on these by continuing to resource the axis.

However, Russia risks dividing its forces as it seeks to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough.