The offensive of Russian troops in the Donbass will be focused on Izyum

Ukrainian forces recaptured part of Severodonetsk over the weekend, although Russian troops likely continue to occupy the eastern regions, the report notes. Russia’s broader plan is likely still to cut off the Severodonetsk area from both the north and south.

Russia made progress in the southern direction of Popasnyansky during May, but its advance in the area stalled last week. “Reports of heavy artillery shelling in the Izyum area indicate that Russia is preparing to resume operations in the northern direction,” the British Defense Ministry said.

Russia will almost certainly need to achieve a breakthrough in at least one of these areas in order to translate tactical gains into success at the operational level and move towards its political goal of controlling the entire Donetsk region, British intelligence notes.

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