russia is increasingly losing the initiative in the war.
This is reported by the intelligence of the UK Ministry of Defence.
It is noted that russia has not achieved significant success in neutralising Ukraine's air defences and in destroying Ukrainian counter-offensive forces.
The occupiers are redeploying their forces to respond to attacks in the west of russia.
In operational terms, the russian command is likely attempting to amass reserve forces and position them where, in their view, a Ukrainian counteroffensive could occur.
However, these actions are being disrupted due to the necessity of dispatching troops to fill gaps in the front line around Bakhmut.