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British intelligence, after Mariupol Russian troops will move to the Donbass
As soon as Russia has total control of Mariupol, it is likely that it will move its forces from the port city reduced to rubble to strengthen the Donbass: British intelligence writes in its update on the situation in Ukraine, underlining however that the redeployment of soldiers it could happen without adequate preparation, with the risk of further friction between the troops.
In the report released today by the London Ministry of Defense, intelligence recalls that up to 1,700 Ukrainian soldiers who were barricaded in the Azovstal steel plant have surrendered, while an unknown number remain inside the plant.
The stalwart resistance of Ukrainian forces to Mariupol since the invasion began means that Russian soldiers in that area will have to be re-equipped and replaced before they can be effectively deployed again. But this is a time-consuming process if done carefully.
However, the report concludes, the commanders are under pressure and must demonstrate that they can achieve the set operational objectives: hence the possibility of a redeployment of Mariupol’s soldiers done too quickly with the relative risks.
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