Russian gains to continue while anti-Russian sentiment grows in occupied Ukraine: UK

The UK Ministry of Defense said in its intelligence report that in the Donbas, Russian forces will likely focus on taking several small towns during the coming week, including Siversk and Dolyna on the approaches to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk.

“Russia continues to seek to undermine the legitimacy of the Ukrainian state and consolidate its own governance and administrative control over occupied parts of Ukraine,” the ministry said in its report. 

However, Anti-Russian sentiment in occupied Ukraine is leading to the targeting of Russian and pro-Russian authorities. The Russian-appointed administration in Velykyy Burluk admitted that a vehicle bombing killed one of its mayors on July 11, 2022, the report said. 

“The targeting of officials is likely to escalate, exacerbating the already significant challenges facing the Russian occupiers and potentially increasing the pressure on the already reduced military and security formations,” the MoD said in a tweet.

Picture Credits: Reuters 

Also read: 

Turkey to hold negotiations with Russia, Ukraine, and UN on grain shipments

Russian President Putin to visit Iran next week