Russian army renewing offensive south of Izium - British intelligence

Russian army renewing offensive south of Izium - British intelligence

Ukrinform
In the last 48 hours, Russia has likely renewed its efforts to advance south of Izium, with the goal of advancing deeper into the Donetsk region.

That’s according to an update released by the British Defense Ministry, Ukrinform reports.

The effort aims to envelop the Siverodonetsk Pocket from the north, the report notes.

Also, the Ministry has released a warning as regards humanitarian corridors, which Russian and separatist officials have claimed they are attempting to establish for Siverodonetsk residents since June 14.

Read also: Civilians killed in Russia’s shelling of Donetsk Region, Luhansk Region – update on situation across Ukraine

Options to leave the town are limited by the destruction of bridges, but Russia’s proposed route would take them towards the town of Svatova, deeper inside Russian-occupied territory, the report warns.

It is noted that Russia has precedent, both earlier in the Ukraine campaign and in Syria, of using unilaterally declared ‘humanitarian’ corridors as a mechanism to manipulate the battlespace and impose the forced transfer of populations.

Ukrainian civilians trapped in Siverodonetsk “are likely to be suspicious of using the proposed corridor.”

“If trapped civilians don’t take up the offer of exiting via a corridor, Russians will likely claim justification in making less of a distinction between them and any Ukrainian military targets in the area,” the update concludes.

Photo by AA

While citing and using any materials on the Internet, links to the website ukrinform.net not lower than the first paragraph are mandatory. In addition, citing the translated materials of foreign media outlets is possible only if there is a link to the website ukrinform.net and to the website of a foreign media outlet. Citing and using materials in offline media, mobile apps, Smart TV are allowed only with written permission from Ukrinform. News and publications marked as "Advertisement" and "PR" and articles in the section "Releases" include promoted content, and an advertiser is responsible for the content.

© 2015-2024 Ukrinform. All rights reserved.

Website design Studio Laconica

Extended searchHide extended search
By period:
-