Vladimir Putin looks set to rush his troops from the besieged city of Mariupol into the battle for the Donbas risking more heavy losses, British defence chiefs said on Friday.
The assessment from the Ministry of Defence came as Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelensky said Russian forces had turned the eastern region into “hell” and had completely destroyed it.
The Kremlin has switched its attention to the Donbas after its plans to seize Kyiv and other parts of northern Ukraine in a lightning raid floundered.
But despite concentrating its efforts on the Donbas, Russian forces are making slow progress and suffering significant casualties. UK armed forces minister James Heappey estimated this week that “tens of thousands” have lost their lives since the start of the conflict on February 24.
In its daily intelligence briefing, the Ministry of Defence said more Russian forces could be killed as President Putin’s commanders come “under pressure” to hurry troops from Mariupol in the south, which is now largely under Russian control, to the Donbas.
The MoD said: “Staunch Ukrainian resistance in Mariupol since the start of the war means Russian forces in the area must be re-equipped and refurbished before they can be redeployed effectively. This can be a lengthy process when done thoroughly. Russian commanders, however, are under pressure to demonstrably achieve operational objectives. This means that Russia will probably redistribute their forces swiftly without adequate preparation, which risks further force attrition.”
Mariupol — a strategic port city on the Azov Sea — has become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance. It has been targeted with relentless bombardment since the start of the war, with thousands of troops and civilians trapped inside the Azovstal steel plant.
The MoD said 1,700 Ukrainian troops had now surrendered from the sprawling complex but it was unknown how many remained inside.
Speaking during his nightly address from Kyiv, Mr Zelensky set out the scale of destruction. He said: “[There are] constant strikes on the Odesa region, on the cities of central Ukraine.
The Donbas is completely destroyed,” he said. “All this has not and cannot have any military explanation for Russia. This is a deliberate and criminal attempt to kill as many Ukrainians as possible. Destroy as many houses, social facilities and enterprises as possible.”
His comments came just hours before the governor of the Luhansk region, Serhiy Gaidai, said that Russian shelling had killed 13 civilians in the past 24 hours. Twelve died in the town of Sievierodonesk, where a Russian assault has been unsuccessful, he said.
The town and the city of Lysychansk are in an area where Russia has launched an offensive.ses, social facilities and enterprises as possible.
