UK intelligence: Russia trying to assert its own regional dominance

“Russian forces continue to redeploy combat and support equipment from Belarus towards eastern Ukraine. This includes locations close to Kharkiv and Severdonetsk,” the British Ministry of Defense tweeted its Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine for April 17, Report informs.

“Russian artillery continues to strike Ukrainian positions throughout the east of the country, where Russia plans to renew its offensive activity.

Though Russia’s operational focus has shifted to eastern Ukraine, Russia’s ultimate objective remains the same. It is committed to compelling Ukraine to abandon its Euro-Atlantic orientation and asserting its own regional dominance,” the British ministry added.