Moscow has only achieved minor advances since shifting its military focus on completely occupying eastern Ukraine, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said in its regular bulletin on April 25.

“Russia has made minor advances in some areas since shifting its focus to fully occupying the Donbas, it tweeted on April 25. “Without sufficient logistical and combat support enablers in place, Russia has yet to achieve a significant breakthrough,” it said.

An aerial view on April 24 of Mariupol, the southern port city that has been reduced to rubble amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
An aerial view on April 24 of Mariupol, the southern port city that has been reduced to rubble amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Ukraine’s defense of Mariupol has also exhausted many Russian units and reduced their combat effectiveness,” the bulletin said.

British military intelligence also noted that a decision by Russia’s Ministry of Defense to propose that compensation for the families of the deceased troops be overseen by the military authorities rather than the civilian administration “likely reflects a desire to hide the true scale of Russia’s losses from the domestic population.”