British secret service: Russia slows progress

Location in Ukraine

Secret service: Putin’s soldiers hardly make any progress

The front lines remain largely unchanged in Ukraine. The British secret service sees a slowdown in Russian advances.

Russian troops are still making progress in the occupied areas of Ukraine, but far slower than before. In an analysis, the British military secret service speaks of a significant decline in Russian off -road races since the beginning of the year. They were 143 square kilometers in March, less than five square kilometers per day. In November, the Russian conquests were still 700 square kilometers.

Most progress would have made Russian troops in the Donetsk region, but without having achieved an advantage in warfare. The lower pace of the Russian soldiers is also likely to be due to Ukrainian counterattacks, including near the city of Pokrowsk.

The intensity of Russian soil attacks was also lower in March than in the previous months, according to the British military secret service. Although there was a small increase at the beginning of the month, it did not stop. According to a report by the American Institute for War Studies (ISW), the Russian military leadership could have moved some units of the 98th VDV Division as reinforcement to the Kursk region.

Ukrainian soldiers are said to have started counterattacks in the Belgorod Oblast, but to a small extent. In Charkiw there are still fights after Russian sources, but there are no progress in terrain.

One reason for the slowdown in Russian advances could be the effort for an armistice. Russia could try to reduce losses and secure the current front course. Russian President Putin has repeatedly claimed the areas of Ukraine he occupied and should not be interested in losing parts again. Instead, Russia tries to keep a conquered area and to claim in negotiations.

Kyiv also uses drones, especially to make Russian infrastructure. Drone pilots are likely to have succeeded in a severe blow to Russian technology. As the ISW reports, among other things, a Russian factory for fiber optic cables has apparently been hit. Recordings show a fire. Fixed fiber cables are used because they are largely neglected. They are also used to control drones because the cables are less susceptible to interference. From Russian sources it was said that the factory was the only one that produces fiber optic cables for the Russian military.