Russia abandoned efforts to take more territory and is focusing on defense, Ukraine claims

• Kyrylo Budanov, mentioned Putin’s forces have been focusing on making an attempt to seize Bakhmut
• Intelligence boss mentioned new assault might be a ‘landmark battle in Ukraine’s historical past’

Russia has all however abandoned efforts to take more territory and is now focusing on defending its positions in preparation for a brutal counteroffensive by Ukraine, the top of navy intelligence in Kyiv has mentioned.

Kyrylo Budanov, the top of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, mentioned Vladimir Putin’s forces have been channeling nearly all of their offensive operations into making an attempt to seize the bitterly-contested metropolis of Bakhmut.

Decorated Major General Budanov, 37, didn’t reveal particulars about Ukrainian battle plans, however promised {that a} highly-anticipated counterattack can be a ‘landmark battle in Ukraine’s historical past’.

It comes after Yevgeny Prighozin, the top of the dreaded Wagner mercenary group of Russian fighters, declared his forces had taken Bakhumt earlier this month. The metropolis has not fallen and has continued to see heavy combating. 

Budanov taunted Prighozin in his newest interview with RBC Ukraine, saying that Putin’s crony has nothing to have fun with the meagre positive factors and large losses suffered by Russian forces.

Budanov mentioned that Russian navy command is making an attempt to make use of related ways to these in Bakhmut within the cities of Avdiivka and Marinka, that are additionally within the embattled Donetsk area, however with restricted success.

Outside the realm, Budanov mentioned, Putin’s forces ‘have fully switched to positional protection in every single place.’

‘The solely locations on the frontline the place they’re making makes an attempt are within the metropolis of Bakhmut, an try to cowl the town of Avdiivka from the north, and localized combating within the metropolis of Marinka. 

‘Both in Avdiivka and Marinka the ways are an identical to these in Bakhmut – simply an try to wipe the settlement off the face of the earth, as they are saying,’ he mentioned. 

Pictures out of the 2 cities present scenes of utter devastation attributable to shelling.

In one scene of destruction, a neighborhood resident rides on his bike previous a shopping center destroyed by rocket strike within the frontline city of Avdiivka.

Another image exhibits a bombed-out residential constructing within the city.

Budanov additionally revealed that he believes there is little probability of Vuhledar within the Donbas area, which has been the location of a significant tank battle, being captured by Russian forces. 

The intelligence chief went on to speculate concerning the elevated stress at house confronted by Putin and the Russian navy management, as heavy losses fail to stack up to any main positive factors in what was initially introduced as a short-term ‘particular navy operation’.

‘Against the backdrop of the shortage of success elsewhere, they face the issue that even their “deceived” society wants to see one thing, some form of victory,’ he mentioned.

‘This is the one place the place they succeed no less than. In addition, there is the truth that Prigozhin as soon as mentioned that he would take Bakhmut. 

‘He can be completely satisfied to sing about it, however he cannot. That is, all the pieces simply got here collectively right here,’ Budanov mentioned. 

His feedback have been made as Russian casualties have dropped by nearly a 3rd this month, British intelligence experiences, with Moscow is mentioned to be scaling again its assaults and making ready for an onslaught by Kyiv. 

In his wide-ranging interview, Budanov additionally slammed the Russian president for his alleged use of physique doubles, contending that he had not visited the occupied areas of Luhansk, Mariupol and Kherson in latest weeks.

The Kremlin was compelled to difficulty a rare denial that Vladimir Putin makes use of physique doubles and hides in nuclear bunkers amid rumours concerning the warmonger’s well being.

Putin’s mouthpiece Dmitry Peskov – a senior Kremlin official – insisted that the Russian president is in good well being, even telling schoolchildren that him utilizing physique doubles was a ‘lie’.

In an additional replace, Budanov additionally revealed yesterday that Ukraine and Russia are nearing an settlement on an ‘all-for-all’ prisoner trade. 

The navy chief famous that Ukraine has launched over 2,200 individuals throughout the prisoner of warfare trade programme, and that Ukrainian troops had additionally been returned house.