UK Says Ukraine Advance In Kherson Surprised Russians

The UK Defense Ministry said in its intelligence update that Ukraine’s advance on a broad front west of the Dnipro River that focuses on three axes within Russian-occupied Kherson Oblast, has “limited immediate objectives.”

Photo Insert: Ukrainian forces have likely achieved a “degree of tactical surprise,” exploiting “poor logistics, administration, and leadership” in the Russian armed force.

Ukrainian forces have likely achieved a “degree of tactical surprise,” exploiting “poor logistics, administration, and leadership” in the Russian armed forces, the ministry said, Ukraine Daily reported.

While fighting continues in the Donbas and Kharkiv areas, a key decision for Russian commanders in the coming days will be “where to commit any operational reserve force they can generate,” the ministry added.

For its part, Ukraine's intelligence said 40% of the military equipment of Russia’s newly created 3rd Army Corps is not “combat ready.”

Vadym Skibitskyi, a representative of Ukraine's Defense Ministry's Intelligence Directorate, said that Russia had used its latest military equipment in February and March, while Russia’s newly-created military units that are supposed to provide reinforcement in Ukraine “are still equipped with Soviet-style weapons.”

Russian Railways, the state railroad monopoly, is recruiting 10,000 of its workers to fight in Ukraine.

The employees are expected to sign short-term contracts for six months and get $5,100 per month. A document on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin's alleged plan to recruit volunteers at major companies was published by Alexei Tabalov, a Russian human rights lawyer.

The Ukrainian General Staff has reported that Russia has lost 49,050 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24. Russia had also lost 2,034 tanks, 4,403 armored fighting vehicles, 3,268 vehicles and fuel tanks, 1,134 artillery systems, 293 multiple launch rocket systems, 153 air defense systems, 205 helicopters, 235 airplanes, 864 drones, and 15 boats.

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