Russian forces lack artillery ammunition, reserves in southern Ukraine – UK intel

Russian troops fighting in southern Ukraine face a shortage of artillery ammunition and a lack of reserves.

The UK Defense Ministry said this in a new intelligence report, according to Ukrinform.

The ministry said that in southern Ukraine, intense fighting continues to be focused in two sectors. South of Orikhiv, the focus of Ukrainian assaults has been against Russia's 58th Combined Arms Army (58 CAA). 58 CAA is highly likely struggling with battle fatigue and attrition in forward-deployed regiments which have been in intense combat for over eight weeks.

Further east, south of Velyka Novosilka, the defending Russian force is drawn from both the Eastern and Southern military districts, likely creating problems of co-ordination.

According to British intelligence, elements of the 5th Combined Army are likely to be under particular pressure, and probably also feel that they are long overdue for a rotation out of the front-line.

"Across the south, common problems for Russian commanders are highly likely to include shortage of artillery ammunition, a lack of reserves and problems securing the flanks of units in the defense," the UK Defense Ministry said.