UK Intelligence: Russian forces renewed advance south of Izium

In the last 48 hours, Russia likely renewed its efforts to advance south of Izium with the goal of advancing deeper into the Donetsk Oblast, and envelope the Sieverodonetsk Pocket from the north.

According to Caliber.Az, this is stated in British Intelligence's latest update on the situation in Ukraine published by the British Ministry of Defence.

It is also noted that since June 14, Russian and separatist officials have claimed they are attempting to establish humanitarian corridors to allow civilians to evacuate Sieverodonetsk.

"Russia has precedent, both earlier in the Ukraine campaign, and in Syria of using unilaterally-declared 'humanitarian' corridors as a mechanism to manipulate the battlespace and impose the forced transfer of population," the message says.

Options to leave the town are limited by the destruction of bridges, but Russia's proposed route would take them towards the town of Svatova, deeper inside Russian-occupied territory.

"If trapped civilians don't take up the offer of exiting via a corridor, Russian will likely claim justification in making less of a distinction between them and any Ukrainian military targets in the area," the UK intelligence noted.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 18 June 2022

Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/811YhLUVp2

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— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) June 18, 2022