British intelligence reports russia’s small success in Luhansk region

Ukraine retains effective command of forces in Donbas, but russia has achieved some local successes in the Luhansk region.

Rubryka reports, citing intelligence data from the British Ministry of Defense.

The agency says the russian army's advance further west may create difficulties with the army's supply.

British intelligence reports that russia has intensified its operations in Donbas, trying to encircle Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk, and Rubizhne.

The agency added that about 25 km of territory controlled by Ukraine separates this operation's northern and southern axes.

The British intelligence emphasizes that the Ukrainian defenders strongly resist: the forces have taken up well dug-in defensive positions.

According to intelligence, the Joint Forces Operation is likely to maintain effective command and control over this front.

However, russia has achieved some local successes, in part because they concentrated artillery units.

russia's seizure of the Sievierodonetsk "pocket" will lead to the occupation of the entire Luhansk region.

Although it is russia's primary effort now, the operation is only part of russia's campaign to seize Donbas, the ministry said.

If the Donbas front line moves further west, it will extend russia's lines of communication and likely see its forces face further logistics difficulties, British intelligence says.

As reported by Rubryka, British intelligence said that in the first three months of the war in Ukraine, russia's death toll was probably the same as that of the Soviet Union during its nine-year war in Afghanistan.

As Rubryka previously reported, a preliminary review showed that Russia had problems because of a shortage of drones, which resulted from the loss of aircraft on the battlefield and Western sanctions.