Russia made progress in the Popasnyansk direction during May, but now its advance in the area has stalled.
This is according to a new British Defense Ministry intelligence review on Twitter.
The intelligence notes that Ukrainian forces recaptured part of Severodonetsk over the weekend, although Russian forces likely continue to occupy eastern parts of the city.
"Over the weekend, Ukrainian forces recaptured parts of Severodonetsk, although Russian forces likely continue to occupy eastern neighborhoods. Russia's broader plan is probably still to cut off the Severodonetsk area from both the north and the south," British Intelligence reported.
Meanwhile, Russia made gains in the southern, Popasnya area during May, but its advance in the area stalled last week.
Reports of heavy artillery fire near Izyum suggest that Russia is preparing to make new efforts in the northern direction.
"Russia almost certainly needs to achieve a breakthrough in at least one of these directions in order to turn tactical gains into operational-level success and advance toward its political goal of controlling the entire Donetsk Oblast," the review said.
The day before, the British Ministry of Defense announced that it had provided Ukraine with M270 multiple-launch rocket systems, which can hit targets at a distance of up to 80 km.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 7 June 2022
Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/wlN06HEVws
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