It reported on Thursday that the town was experiencing heavy shelling and that fighting was also continuing in the embattled eastern city of Bakhmut.
"Over the last 48 hours, heavy fighting has continued in the Bakhmut sector where Ukrainian forces are keeping resupply routes open to the west despite Russia’s creeping encirclement over the last six weeks," the UK defence ministry said in a daily intelligence bulletin.
Further south, in the Donetsk region, "the town of Vuhledar has again experienced heavy shelling," it added, saying that there is now “a realistic possibility that Russia is preparing for another offensive effort in this area despite costly failed attacks in early February and late 2022.”
"Russia’s Eastern Group of Forces likely still has responsibility for the Vuhledar operation," the British defence ministry also said in its daily briefing on Thursday.
It added that the group's commander, Col. Gen. Rustam Muradov, "is likely under intense pressure to improve results following harsh criticism from the Russian nationalist community after previous setbacks."
However, "it is unlikely that Muradov has a striking force capable of achieving a breakthrough," according to the defence ministry in London.
Ukrainian recruits undergoing trench warfare training in England
The UK defence ministry said earlier this week that Ukrainian recruits were being trained in trench warfare in the north of England to aid Kyiv's war effort against Moscow.
"The UK and nine international training partners are ensuring that Ukraine can stand up to Russian aggression and retake territory," it said in a tweet on Wednesday.
UK 'will continue to support' Ukraine 'for as long as it takes'
Britaiin will "continue to support Ukraine against Russia’s illegal invasion, supplying the defensive capabilities needed for as long as it takes," according to another tweet from the defence ministry in London.
Thursday is day 365 of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, Reuters