Occupiers build up combat capacity on Kupiansk-Lyman axis, but AFU holding line, Russian breakthrough is unlikely – British intelligence

12:57, 18.10.2023 1 min read

Russian occupiers have built up combat capacity in the Kupiansk-Lyman direction in recent months, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, published on the X social network on Wednesday morning.

"Russian shelling has intensified and elements of the Russian 6th and 25th Combined Arms Armies (CAA) and the 1st Guards Tank Army have conducted attacks, but with limited success. It is highly likely that this activity is part of an ongoing Russian offensive being conducted on multiple axes in eastern Ukraine," the intelligence said.

British intelligence suggests that the invaders intend to advance to the Oskil River to create a buffer zone around Luhansk region, but are not able to carry out an operational breakthrough.

"RGF [Russian Ground Forces] have built up combat capacity in the Kupiansk-Lyman direction in recent months. However, Ukrainian forces retain a significant defensive presence on this axis and it is highly unlikely RGF will achieve a major operational breakthrough," the intelligence said.