Russia forms new army corps for Ukraine war - UK intelligence

This was reported by the British Ministry of Defense on Twitter.

British intelligence suggests that Russian commanders continue to face competing operational priorities of stepping up the offensive in Donbas and strengthening defenses against expected Ukrainian counterattacks in the south.

According to intelligence, to support the operation, Russia has almost certainly created a major new ground force group, the 3rd Army Corps, based at Mulino in Nizhny Novgorod region. The Russian Federation plans to staff it from newly formed "volunteer" battalions that are being recruited throughout the country.

Russian regional politicians have confirmed that potential recruits are offered lucrative cash bonuses when they go to Ukraine. Men under the age of 50 and with only a secondary education are accepted into the battalions.

"A Russian army corps typically consists of 15-20,000 troops, but it will probably be difficult for Russia to bring 3 AC up to this strength, given very limited levels of popular enthusiasm for volunteering for combat in Ukraine. 3 AC's effect is unlikely to be decisive to the campaign," British intelligence concluded.