Ukraine: Russia forced to choose between offence and defence due to depleted combat power, MOD says
Russian leaders are being forced to choose between going on the offensive or defending their current positions due to depleted combat power, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.
In its latest defence intelligence update on Twitter, the MOD said "broadly across the frontline, Russia is conducting some of the lowest rates of local offensive action that has been seen since at least January 2023".
"This is most likely because Russian forces have temporarily depleted the deployed formations' combat power to such an extent that even local offensive actions are not currently sustainable," the MOD said.
"Russian leaders will likely seek to regenerate the offensive potential of the force once personnel and munition stocks are replenished.
"In the meantime, commanders will likely be forced to choose between carrying out offensive operations and conducting a credible defence of the full line."
The MOD also said Russian and Wagner Group forces have obtained footholds on the Bakhmutka River, in the contested Donbas town of Bakhmut.
The update continued: "Over the preceding week, the river had marked the frontline. Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to defend the west of the town."
It comes after the MOD said Ukrainian forces successfully slowed Russian advances by adopting the use of remote anti-armour mines.
They added that Ukraine's adoption of Remote Anti-Armour Mine systems (RAAM) contributed to heavy Russian losses.
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