Ukraine: Russia failing to restart offensive due to inexperienced troops and unrealistic aims, UK says

Russia is failing to make any significant gains in Ukraine due to inexperienced troops and unrealistic aims, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) has said.

In the latest defence intelligence update, the MOD tweeted that it is "highly likely" Russia has been trying to restart "major offensive operations" in Ukraine since January.

"Its operational goal is almost certainly to capture the remaining Ukrainian-held parts of Donetsk Oblast," the MOD tweeted.

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"Russian forces have only managed to gain several hundred metres of territory per week. 

"This is almost certainly because Russia now lacks the munitions and manoeuvre units required for successful offensives.

"Senior commanders likely make plans requiring undermanned, inexperienced units to achieve unrealistic objectives due to political and professional pressure."

However, despite obvious shortcomings, the MOD said Russian leaders "will likely continue to demand sweeping advances". 

"It remains unlikely that Russia can build up the forces needed to substantially affect the outcome of the war within the coming weeks," the MOD tweeted.

It comes after the MOD said recruited prisoners are less likely to be sent to fight in Ukraine due to tension between the Wagner Group and the Russian Ministry of Defence.

In a previous defence update, they said "competition between factions in the Russian elite is likely to be partially responsible for the reduced supply of convicts."