Russian commanders ‘preparing for major Ukrainian offensive’

Russian commanders are “preoccupied” with the potential for a major new Ukrainian offensive in two regions and are struggling to determine where to focus their defence efforts, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.
“In recent weeks, Russia has bolstered defensive fortifications in central Zaporizhzhia Oblast, southern Ukraine, especially between the towns of Vasilyvka and Orikhiv,” the ministry said in its morning intelligence update on Sunday.
But war planners also appear to be preparing for the possibility of major Ukrainian action in northern Luhansk Oblast.
“Deciding which of these threats to prioritise countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners,” it said.
While “a major Ukrainian breakthrough in Zaporizhzhia would seriously challenge the viability of Russia’s ‘land bridge’ linking Russia’s Rostov region and Crimea,” according to the ministry, “Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russia’s professed war aim of ‘liberating’ the Donbas.”
Source: telegraph.co.uk