Russia maintains initiative in combat zone in Ukraine – Estonian intelligence

Colonel Ants Kiviselg, the head of Estonian intelligence, has stated that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are still maintaining the initiative on the battlefield in Ukraine and are trying to increase the intensity of their operations.

Source: ERR citing Kiviselg’s statement at a briefing on 8 March, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Kiviselg explained that previously, the activity of the Russian forces had been gradually decreasing, but started intensifying again over the past week, specifically the ground forces.

He added that Russia had focused on detecting possible weak spots in Ukraine’s defence, mainly on the Luhansk (Kupiansk-Kreminna-Svatove) and Donetsk (Bakhmut and Avdiivka) fronts.

"In both areas the armed formations of the Russian Federation have advanced. Luckily, the scale of this advance was quite limited. The Russian forces are gradually advancing on the northwest and west near Bakhmut. There were no significant changes to the operative situation near Avdiivka," Kiviselg stated.

Kiviselg reported that Russia’s combat actions in the south of Ukraine have been less intense lately.

The Russian forces continue advancing in the direction of Robotyne and Verbove. The Ukrainian forces continue to hold their positions and counteract Russian attacks on the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River, Kiviselg summed up.

Earlier, Estonian intelligence estimated that the occupation of the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast had not resulted in the positive media coverage the Russian leadership needed ahead of presidential elections.

UK intelligence believes that the current goal of Russian forces is occupying the city of Chasiv Yar in Donetsk Oblast but they are unlikely to conduct an offensive.

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