Russia plans to surround Bakhmut town, UK "intelligence" says

Russia is likely planning to encircle the Donetsk region’s town of Bakhmut with tactical advances to the north and south, Britain’s defence ministry said.

“There is a realistic possibility that Bakhmut’s capture has become primarily a symbolic, political objective for Russia,” the ministry said.

The capture of Bakhmut would have limited operational value but it can potentially allow Russia to threaten Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, it added.