The Russian Federation has in recent weeks fired high-ranking commanders believed to have performed poorly in the initial stages of the invasion of Ukraine.

This was stated in a daily summary of British intelligence.

Lieutenant General Sergei Kisel, who commanded the elite 1st Guards Tank Army, was suspended for failing to capture Kharkov.

Vice Admiral Igor Osipov, who commanded the Russian Black Sea Fleet, was also likely removed from his post after the sinking of the cruiser Moskva in April.

Valery Gerasimov, Russia's chief of the General Staff, probably remains in his post, but it is unclear whether he retains President Putin's trust.

"The culture of concealment and scapegoating is probably prevalent in the Russian military and security system. Many officials involved in the invasion of Ukraine are likely to become increasingly distracted by attempts to avoid personal blame for Russia's operational failures. This is likely to put additional strain on Russia's centralized model of command and control, as officers increasingly seek to shift key decisions to their superiors. Under these conditions, it will be difficult for Russia to regain the initiative," the report said.

British intelligence reported the other day that Russia's offensive in the Donbass has lost momentum and will not be able to recover for at least a month, while systemic problems continue to mount.

According to their assessment, the advance of Russian forces may be complicated by the loss of bridge equipment and drones, persistent low morale, and decreased combat readiness of units that cannot be quickly replaced.