UK intelligence: russian army prepares for Ukraine's significant breakthrough
After retreating from the right bank of the Dnieper river in the Kherson region, russian forces are being re-equipped; some of them will probably remain in the south, and some may be transferred to Bakhmut.
This is stated in the UK Ministry of Defense review on russia's war in Ukraine for November 18.
After retreating from the right bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson region, russian troops have primarily refitted, regrouped, and prepared defensive lines in most areas along the entire front line in Ukraine.
" Units have constructed new trench systems near the border of Crimea, as well as near the Siversky-Donets River between Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.
Some of these locations are up to 60km behind the current front line, suggesting that Russian planners are making preparations in case of further major Ukrainian breakthroughs," British intelligence officers believe.
"It is likely that Russia will attempt to eventually redeploy some of the forces recovered from Kherson to reinforce and expand its offensive operations near the town of Bakhmut in Donetsk Oblast," the review notes.
Reference
On October 27, the Ukrainian Center of National Resistance announced that the russians had moved their occupation administration in the Kherson region to the left bank of the Dnieper. That is, they had taken it out of Kherson.
They were prompted to this by the Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive and the bridges' destruction across the river.
On November 3, the flag of the russian federation disappeared from the building of the regional state administration in Kherson.
During the offensive actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction on November 9, 12 settlements were liberated: Dudchany, Piatikhatky, Borozenske, Sadok, Bezvodne, Ishchenka, Kostromka, Krasnoliubetsk, Kalynivske, Bobrovyi Kut, Bezimenne and Blahodatne.
On November 11, the Ukrainian armed forces entered the city of Kherson.
Residents of Kherson took to the streets with Ukrainian flags and flowers to welcome the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the city.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported that Ukraine was restoring control over Kherson, the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were entering the city, and the only chance for the remaining russian military to avoid death was to surrender immediately.