Russia aims to capture Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions entirely - General Staff

The Russian army is attempting a breakthrough all the way to the administrative borders of Kherson region in the south and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions in the east, while retaining the captured border crossings in the Kyiv and Chernihiv regions, to keep at least part of the Ukrainian forces engaged.

Source: General Staff of the Ukrainian Defence Forces, information briefing at 12:00, April 2.

Quote: "Based on available information, the enemy's intention is to encircle our forces in the area and then reach the administrative borders of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. 

In an attempt to limit the actions of our armed forces they will keep holding the reinforced border posts in the Kyiv and Chernihiv areas, most likely keeping to territory closest to the national borders of Ukraine (with Belarus and Russia - ed.)" 

Details: In the Volyn direction, there are no signs that the occupiers are forming offensive groups. Various units of the armed forces of Belarus are entering a regiment of heightened operational and combat readiness. The enemy is concentrating anti-air defence systems in the border regions with Ukraine. 

On the Polessky front the occupiers are moving support detachments on the territory of Belarus. In order to slow down the advance of Ukrainian units, the occupiers are mining abandoned positions and crossings, as well as various elements of transport and infrastructural importance. This is preventing rapid evacuation.

The Russian army is keeping units of the 41st Combined Armed Forces in the north to maintain its blockade of the city of Chernihiv. Sources indicate, however, that the main part of this military group is already moving away, attempting to re-enter Russian territory. 

On the Brovary front, in the Kurks area of the Russian Federation several units from Russia's 2nd Army are being deployed. Other detachments are being put into combat readiness to move towards the border if needed. 

On the Slobozhansky front Russian forces contine to blockade Kharkiv. They are attempting to continue with the push towards Izyum. 

In the Donetsk area, the enemy is concentrating its main efforts on taking the towns of Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Popasna, Troitske, Avdiivka, Marinka and Krasnohorivka. Attempts continue to establish full control over the city of Mariupol. 

On the southern front, Russian forces are carrying out assault operations in order to reach the administrative borders of the Kherson region.

As part of the occupying forces, up to 75 Battalion Tactical Groups were to be involved in combat missions on the territory of Ukraine, up to 34 BTGs were restored to combat readiness, and 16 BTGs were completely destroyed (information on how to be specified).

Updated: The Ministry of Defence of Great Britain published a map of the captured and contested territories in Ukraine, as reported by British intelligence on April 2nd.

This shows that the entire Kherson area has been captured, while fighting is still ongoing for Mariupol and in the Luhansk area.  Additionally, there is fighting on the approaches to Mykolaiv and Zaporozhie, while Chernihiv and Sumi are being contested and Kharkiv is essentially under siege. 

This was preceded by: Mykhailo Podoliak, Adviser to the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, who is taking part in "peace" talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations, suggested that Russia would try to seize the south and east of Ukraine and dictate its terms to Kyiv.