Russia wants successes for 9 May Victory Day - MOD says

Russia likely wants to demonstrate significant successes ahead of their annual 9 May

Russia likely wants to demonstrate significant successes ahead of their annual 9 May Victory Day celebrations and this could affect how quickly and forcefully they attempt to conduct operations in the run up to this date, Qazet.az reports according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Victory Day celebrates the then USSR defeating Nazi Germany and marks a major annual celebration in Russia.

Russian forces are now advancing in Donbas as part of a renewed offensive after failing to take Kyiv.

Forces are moving towards the city of Kramatorsk, "which continues to suffer from persistent rocket attacks", the MOD says in an intelligence update.