ussian troops have gained territory in Ukraine but are suffering heavy losses including abandoning at least 30 armoured vehicles after a failed assault, British defence chiefs said on Friday.
Vladimir Putin’s generals are reported to be throwing “inexperienced units” into the battlefield as they step up their attacks ahead of an expected full spring offensive.
Putin’s private army, the Wagner Group, is also playing a key role in the new attacks in the eastern Donbas region.
In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence in London said: “Since 7 February 2023, Russian forces have likely made tactical gains in two key sectors.
“On the northern outskirts of the Donbas town of Bakhmut, Wagner Group forces have pushed 2-3km further west, controlling countryside near the M-03 main route into the town.
“Russian forces increasingly dominate the northern approaches to Bakhmut.
“To the south, Russian units have made advances around the western edge of the town of Vuhledar, where they re-launched offensive operations in late January 2023.”
The briefing added: “However, Russian units have likely suffered particularly heavy casualties around Vuhledar as inexperienced units have been committed.
“Russian troops likely fled and abandoned at least 30 mostly intact armoured vehicles in a single incident after a failed assault.”
Putin is massing thousands of troops in preparation for what military analysts expect to be a spring offensive launched within weeks.
But the former head of the British Army, Lord Dannatt, believes the major advance is likely to fail, particularly if Western tanks are supplied to Kyiv in time, leaving Ukraine able to launch a counter-offensive.
