Russia is using separatist forces from a contested Ukrainian territory for urban ground assaults in an effort to minimize the impact of the war on its armed forces, according to new information released by British intelligence.
After sustaining heavy losses in a war that has dragged on for more than 100 days, Russia began mobilizing resistance fighters from the Luhansk region of Ukraine in a ground assault to claim control over the city of Sieverodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, according to an intelligence update from the United Kingdom’s defense ministry, which explained the move “likely indicates a desire to limit casualties suffered by regular Russian forces.”
Separatist forces from the Luhansk region have fought against Ukrainians since 2014 in a Russian-backed revolt, along with resistance fighters from the Donetsk region.
The strategy to use the rebels in Sieverodonetsk is similar to what Moscow has done in Syria, when it deployed soldiers from the Syrian army to assault urban areas. But troops from the self-declared independent region of the Luhansk People’s Republic are “poorly equipped and trained, and lack heavy equipment in comparison to regular Russian units,” the UK said.
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Russia using separatist forces in eastern Ukraine, UK says https://t.co/vQNAHqzce6 pic.twitter.com/aimWVQRQfE
— The Hill (@thehill) June 5, 2022
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