If Ukraine succeeds in regaining control of the city of Kreminna, it will be of strategic importance in terms of recapturing the entire Luhansk region.
18:14•Updated 18:31
Russian troops are strengthening their positions in the Kreminna region of Luhansk, the British Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence report on Wednesday.
Ukrainian forces have been maintaining heavy pressure in the region since the fall and are close to recapturing the small but strategically important town of Kreminna.
Governor of Luhansk region Serhi Haidai wrote on Twitter on Monday that the Russian military leadership had already withdrawn from Kreminna. The claim could not be confirmed by independent sources.
The US think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW), on the other hand, reported on Tuesday that Russian troops had succeeded in repelling Ukrainian attacks in the Luhansk region, near Kreminna.
The New York Times (you are moving to another service) – magazine quoted ISW, according to which Russia had strengthened its forces in the region by sending it when Ukraine recaptured Kherson in November.
According to the institute, Russia is now prioritizing the defense of Kreminna and nearby Svatove. The road between Svatove and Kreminna is an important transport route for supplies and troops for Russia.
A strategically important city
Kreminna is the gateway to two larger cities, Severodonetsk and Lysytchansk, which are important industrial centers of the Luhansk region. Russia has ruled the cities since the summer.
Haidai said in a Telegram message on Tuesday that the Russians understand that if they lose Kreminna, their entire defense line will collapse.
Retaking Kreminna would expand the Ukrainian foothold in the region and give them control of the main roads leading to Sievierodonetsk and Lysytsansk.
The recapture of Kreminna would be important for the continuation of the entire war. Russia has claimed that the “liberation” of the Luhansk region is one of the main root causes of the war, the British Ministry of Defense reminded.
In addition to news agencies, sources: New York Times, The Guardian, CNN.
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