Low morale in Russia’s ranks lingers as its troops remain angered by tin-can fighting, while Moscow is leaning on Belarus for support, according to an update from British intelligence on Thursday.
The UK Ministry of Defense spoke of how “Russian soldiers serving in Ukraine are likely to be frustrated at being forced to serve in old infantry fighting vehicles,” and said they had referred to their aging tanks as “aluminum cans.”
According to the intelligence update, Russian forces were losing “a battalion’s worth of equipment” every day in mid-October as Ukrainian troops advanced to the front lines – particularly in the southern Kherson region, where Ukrainian forces are attempting to push occupying forces across the Dnieper.
Ukrainian soldiers inspect a damaged Russian tank on a road near the recently recaptured village of Kamianka, Kharkiv region, Ukraine on Sunday (AP Photo)
RUSSIA’S STRENGTHENING: WHERE PUTIN FOUND MORE WEAPONS AND TROOPS WHILE THE INVASION OF UKRAINE CONTINUES
As Russia began to see last month armored vehicle casualties rising to more than 40 a day, Britain assessed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had reached out to his longtime ally, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Lukashenko has taken a tight line on the war in Ukraine, supporting Russia’s war effort and allowing Moscow to deploy from Belarus’ borders and use its airspace.
He has also sent troops to its southern border where Russian soldiers are stationed, but he has yet to send invading troops into Ukraine.
The UK Ministry of Defense has also noted that Minsk has given Russia at least 100 additional tanks and armored personnel carriers from its stocks – although this limited stock is not seen as efficient in effectively supporting Putin’s wartime ambitions.
Russian tanks damaged in recent fighting are seen near the recently recaptured village of Kamianka, Kharkiv Region, Ukraine, on Sunday, October 30, 2022. (AP Photo)
RUSSIA REJOINS THE WAR AGREEMENT FOR THE EXPORT OF GRAIN TO UKRAINE
“Armored units and artillery are central to Russia’s warfare,” British defense officials said on Thursday. “The troops in Ukraine are now having some problems because of the difficulty in procuring both artillery ammunition and sufficiently operational armored replacement vehicles.”
Putin’s “military special operation” has been raging for more than eight months, with Ukraine making significant strides in recent times thanks in large part to Western weapons.
On Thursday, Moscow subpoenaed British Ambassador Deborah Bronnert over allegations that the British Navy played a role in the drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea Fleet stationed off Crimea last week, Portal reported.
Remains of a destroyed Russian tank are strewn on the ground along the road between Izium and Kharkiv, Ukraine, Monday October 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Francisco Seco)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
The attack, in which Kyiv has denied involvement and even claimed it was a military blunder in Russia’s own ranks, prompted Moscow to suspend its involvement in the grain export deal.
Details of Bronnert’s 30-minute conversation with Russian officials on Thursday remain unclear, though Britain has denied any involvement in the drone strike.
Caitlin McFall is a reporter at Fox News Digital covering politics, US and world news.