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Vladimir Putin’s forces are becoming “increasingly carved” by the scale of his attack in Ukraine, which has had only limited success, British defense chiefs said on Tuesday.
They stressed that it fired “a large number” of missiles, which are usually used to target objects of “strategic importance”, but are instead used to obtain a “tactical advantage”.
They say the combat effectiveness of his troops is deteriorating so much that it is “probably unsustainable in the long run.”
Putin’s troops took control of the eastern industrial city of Severodonetsk over the weekend.
Now they are trying to take over its sister city, Lisichansk, across the Seversky Donets River from Severodonetsk in the eastern Luhansk province of Donbass.
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In its latest intelligence update, the London Ministry of Defense said: “Ukrainian forces continue to consolidate their positions in a higher position in the city of Lisichansk after retreating from Severodonetsk. Ukrainian forces continue to violate Russian command and control with successful strikes deep behind Russian lines.
It added: “On June 24-26, Russia inflicted unusually intense waves of strikes on Ukraine using long-range missiles. Probably these weapons include the Soviet-era AS-4 KITCHEN and the more modern AS-23a KODIAK missiles fired from both Belarusian and Russian airspace.
Destroyed Russian tank begins to rust in the woods near Kyiv
/ Getty Images
“These weapons are designed to take on strategic goals, but Russia continues to spend them in large quantities for a tactical advantage.
The British chiefs of defense also emphasized: “Similarly, it has the basic elements of six different armies, but only achieves tactical success in Severodonetsk. The Russian armed forces are increasingly carved.
“They are currently adopting a level of deteriorating combat effectiveness that is likely to be unsustainable in the long run.
Britain, America and other allies are waging an information war against the Kremlin, so its intelligence reports need to be treated with caution and often highlight Russia’s failures or shortcomings, not Ukraine’s losses.
However, Russia’s propaganda machine often seems completely at odds with the truth, including the suggestion that a missile strike that struck a crowded Kremenchuk supermarket in central Ukraine was an act of provocation by Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s forces.
More than 1,000 people were inside when two Russian rockets hit a shopping center in Kremenchuk, Poltava, Zelensky said.
Britain has condemned the attack as a “terrorist act” by Putin’s military.
Emergency crews are still searching for survivors among the ruins of the mall.
At least 18 people have been killed and 25 hospitalized, and about 36 are missing, according to civilian officials.
Meanwhile, Russian troops and their allies from the Luhansk Republic were advancing on Lisichansk and street fighting broke out, said the ambassador of the Luhansk People’s Republic in Moscow, recognized only by Russia.
Ukrainian forces still controlled Lisichansk, but its loss was possible as Russia poured resources into the battle, Luhansk Governor Sergei Gaidai said.
The Russian army also shelled the eastern city of Kharkov again, reportedly hitting residential buildings and a primary school, killing five people and injuring 22, including children.
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