Vladimir Putin is wanting a “break” from the fighting to strengthen his forces are “having difficulty in getting supplies into the troops” in the Donetsk region.
The Russians have regrouped but they are struggling to hold their positions in the Donetsk as there are limited supplies of ammunition getting through.
Ukrainian forces are continually fighting Russian supply lines getting through the vital P66 highway which is vital for Russian soldiers to receive vital supplies.
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Former senior military and intelligence officer Philip Ingram told Sky News, “We’ve had reports that the troops that were freed up from Kherson have come across the Dnipro River and moved up into the Donetsk region, which is where the Russian main effort seems to be.
“There has been very heavy shelling, a lot of fighting trying to capture the whole of the Donetsk Oblast and, in particular, around the village of Bakhmut – the Russians not having much success in it.
“They are also building their defences there and they are building their defences further north near Kreminna but the Ukrainians are attacking into the Svatove-Kreminna line.”
Ingram continued, “There’s a road running down there from Russia and that is important, that’s a line of communication that the Russians need to get ammunition and other supplies from Russia down to the troops in the Donbas region.
“Remember the bridge into Crimea has been severely hampered, if not cut [off], so the Russians are having difficulty in getting supplies into the troops that are there.”
Ingram added, “Putin wants a break. Zelensky and the Ukrainians have got the momentum at the moment and we’re waiting for them to decide where they are going to carry out their next counter-offensive.”
Ingram continue, “Winter is having an effect.
“The ground is very boggy and the first snow is in – it’s that boggy ground that stops the armoured formations from manoeuvring properly and is better for the defenders.
“The Russians are digging in to defend but that’s all they can do with their poorly trained reservists that are there.”
On Monday, the British Ministry of Defence reported, Russian forces in the Donbass region are being “hampered by severe shortage of munitions and skilled personnel.”
The MoD added in their intelligence update, “Commanders are likely struggling with the military realities of maintaining a credible defence, while also attempting to resource offensive operations further south in Donetsk.”
