Ukrainian forces conducting 'very clever and careful' series of offensives against Russia

Ukrainian forces are advancing on both fronts, whilst Russian forces are just "digging in" and "playing for time", according to a defence analyst.

Speaking to Forces News, Professor Michael Clarke, a former director general of defence and security think tank RUSI, said that the Russians, are in a sense "playing for time for the winter".

"Undoubtedly, in my view, there will be a big Russian second defensive sometime early next year, or as the weather begins to change again towards the spring," he said.

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He believes Ukraine's next big move could be the key city north of Kherson, Nova Kakhovka.

Nova Kakhovka "controls both the dam on the Dnipro river, which helps control the water supply into the Crimea, there's also a big hydroelectric power plant there, it's also a natural bridge across the Dnipro river.

Prof Clarke added: "If the Ukrainians take Nova Kakhovka, then it's entirely plausible, in my view, that they would send forces over the dam across the bridge in effect. And they would be on the eastern side of the Dnipro river, and they would be in a position then to begin to encircle Kherson itself further south.

"I would expect them to make Nova Kakhovka their first objective, as a prelude, a stepping-off place, to an encirclement of Kherson."

According to Prof Clarke, the Ukrainians are working to "insulate Russian troops, make sure that they can't be supplied, then force them to either withdraw or have to surrender".