The result of the intensified military operations in the lower reaches of the Dnipro River will largely depend on the accuracy and intensity of artillery fire, British intelligence believes, stating that the Russians retain significant artillery potential in this sector of the front.

"Over the past week, fighting has intensified on the banks of the lower Dnieper River. Ukraine is paying increased attention to operations in this sector, building up small bridgeheads on the eastern bank, which it has controlled since the summer," the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said on the X social network on Wednesday.

As British intelligence experts note, Russia has likely been alert to the possibly of attacks across the river "since it withdrew its forces from the western bank 12 months ago. The area is under the control of the newly established 18th Combined Arms Army, after some of the units previously in the area were diverted to the Orikhiv axis to the east."

"As in most sectors, a decisive factor is almost certainly the combatants’ ability to bring accurate, intense artillery fire to bear. Initial indication suggests that Russia has maintained a significant artillery capability within range of the river," the intelligence said.