Russia has stepped up its activity in Donbass as it looks to surround Severodonetsk, Lysychansk and Rubizhne, the British Ministry of Defense said in its latest intelligence update on the Ukrainian war on May 24.
"Currently, the northern and southern axes of the campaign are about 25 km apart because of the territory controlled by Ukraine," the British Ministry of National Defense pointed out.
Although Ukraine has been strong in resistance, Russia has made some progress locally, partly due to the concentration of artillery units, the UK noted.
Controlling the Severodonetsk region is very important for Russia because as such, the entire Lugansk Oblast is under Russian control, CNBC pointed out.
However, although it is currently Russia's main effort, this campaign is only a part of the campaign to occupy Donbass.
The British Defense Ministry noted: If the Donbass front moves further west, the Russian communication line will expand and could face difficulties in logistics supplies for their forces.
Also related to the war in eastern Ukraine, Kiev said that Russian forces have attacked many towns in the Donbass region. Russia " shoots down 38 towns in Donetsk and Lugansk," the Ukrainian Joint Special Forces said on May 24.
The shelling "destroyed and damaged 62 civilians, including 53 houses, 1 agricultural enterprise, 1 kindergarten, 1 bank branch, 1 pharmacy and the administrative building of the national police".
The shelling also killed at least seven civilians and injured six others.
In a separate Facebook post, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces informed that Russian forces are using fierce fire along the entire communication line and deep into the defense lines of our army in Donetsk, Slobozhansky and Pivdennobuzhsky, with the most intense attacks near Lysychansk and Severodonetsk.
In other developments, Ukrainian Kherson region official appointed by Moscow, Vladimir Saldo, said the region would officially accept the Russian ruble and the Ukrainian hryvnia. Mr. Saldo also said that a Russian bank office will open in the region, AP reported.
Kherson is the first city to be completely under Russian control. A Russian official had earlier spoken about the plan to submit to Russian President Vladimir Putin to merge Kherson region into the Russian Federation.
