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Ukrainian forces withdraw from Severodonetsk to secure better defensive positions: analysis

25.06.2022 12:00
Ukrainian forces are withdrawing from the eastern city of Severodonetsk to secure better defensive positions and further wear down Russian manpower and equipment, according to an analysis published by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US think tank.
Members of Ukraines territorial defence force take part in a training exercise near the capital Kyiv earlier this month.
Members of Ukraine's territorial defence force take part in a training exercise near the capital Kyiv earlier this month.Photo: PAP Viacheslav Ratynskyi

Commanding officers on Friday ordered "a controlled withdrawal of troops from Severodonetsk," saying that Ukrainian forces were withdrawing from “broken positions” in Severodonetsk to prevent further personnel losses and maintain a stronger defence elsewhere, the ISW said in its latest analysis of the war in Ukraine.

It quoted a US Pentagon official as saying that Russian forces pushing on Severodonetsk were already showing signs of “wear and tear” and “debilitating morale.”

This "will only further slow Russian offensive operations in Donbas," the ISW said, noting that Russian forces "have been attempting to seize Severodonetsk since at least March 13, exhausting their forces and equipment over three months."

Several Russian generals removed from key positions: UK defence ministry

Meanwhile, the UK defence ministry said in its latest intelligence update that Ukraine was "likely re-configuring its defence of the Severodonetsk-Lysychansk sector."

The update added that Russia "has highly likely removed" several generals from "key operational roles" in the war in Ukraine since the start of June.

The next commander for Russia's Southern Group of Forces is likely to be Colonel-General Sergei Surovikin, whose career "has been dogged with allegations of corruption and brutality," the British Ministry of Defence said.

Saturday is day 122 of Russia's war on Ukraine.

(gs)

Source: PAPunderstandingwar.org