For the Russian army, even local attacks along the front line have become problematic due to the exhaustion of the combat capabilities of deployed formations, according to the British Ministry of Defense.

Based on British intelligence sources, a British Ministry Twitter post notes that in recent days Russian forces and the Wagner Group have seized a foothold west of the Bakhmutka River in the center of the town of Bakhmut. Last week, the river was a line of resistance between Ukrainians and Russians. The armed forces of Ukraine continue to defend the western part of the city.

However, speaking more broadly across the front, Russia has one of the lowest rates of local offensive activity since at least January 2023, the British say.

The latest military intelligence report on the situation in Ukraine is March 17, 2023.

Learn more about the use of language by military intelligence: https://t.co/y5daPr1dkT

🇺🇦 #StopWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/IEAW3R5oPq

— Ministry of Defense 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) March 17, 2023

British intelligence estimates that this is likely due to the fact that Russian forces have temporarily exhausted the combat capabilities of their forces to the point that “it is not possible at present to support even local offensive actions.”

“The Russian leadership is likely to seek to restore the offensive potential of the troops after the replenishment of personnel and ammunition. At the same time, commanders will most likely be forced to choose between conducting offensive operations and reliable defense of the entire line, ”the British ministry said in a statement.

Perhaps this also provides an opportunity for local counterattacks from the Ukrainian forces, since with the increase in temperature these days, it decreases and the mud, which greatly complicates the movement of tracked vehicles across the terrain, is gradually receding.