Russia is likely planning to encircle the Donetsk Oblast town of Bakhmut with tactical advances to the north and south, Britain鈥檚 defense ministry said on Saturday.
The capture of the town would have limited operational value but it can potentially allow Russia to threaten Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, the ministry added in a daily intelligence update.
鈥淭here is a realistic possibility that Bakhmut鈥檚 capture has become primarily a symbolic, political objective for Russia,鈥� the ministry said in the update posted on Twitter.