British intelligence identifies main Russian target in Kupyansk-Lyman area

This information comes from a report by the British Ministry of Defense. 

The report notes that there has been an escalation in Russian artillery fire in this specific front, and units from the 6th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the Russian Federation, as well as the 1st Guards Tank Army, have launched attacks, although these have seen limited success.

According to British intelligence, it is highly likely that this activity is part of an ongoing Russian offensive, occurring in various directions in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the vicinity of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region.

The objective of the Russian Ground Forces in the Kupyansk-Lyman area appears to be advancing westward toward the Oskil River in order to create a protective zone around the Luhansk region, as suggested by the British Ministry of Defense.

It's worth noting that the occupiers have been building up their military capabilities in the Kupyansk-Lyman direction in recent months. However, Ukrainian forces have a substantial defensive presence in this region, making it improbable for Russia to achieve a significant operational breakthrough.

• In a report from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on October 18, it was reported that Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully repelled 24 enemy attacks in the Kupyansk direction throughout the day.