The destruction of all the main bridges into Severodonetsk has left Russian troops needing to find a way to get to the embattled eastern city “to turn tactical gain into operational advantage”, the UK’s Ministry of Defence says.
For weeks capturing Severodonetsk has been a top military goal for Russia.
The MoD says Russia will likely need to either attempt a contested crossing of the Siversky Donets river, which links Severodonetsk with Ukraine-held territory, “or advance on its currently stalled flanks”.
In its morning Ukraine intelligence update, the MoD says Ukraine has probably managed to withdraw a large proportion of its combat troops who were previously holding the town but adds “the situation continues to be extremely difficult for the Ukrainian forces and civilians remaining east of the river”.
Earlier this week local governor Serhiy Haidai said all three bridges into the city had been destroyed, meaning delivering supplies and evacuating civilians was now impossible.