UK intelligence pinpoints Russia's dilemma over Donbas, Crimea land corridor 

The UK Ministry of Defense reported this on Twitter.

UK intelligence draws attention to the fact that in recent weeks, the occupying Russian forces have strengthened defensive fortifications in the Zaporizhzhia region, especially between Vasylivka and Orikhiv. The Russian Federation maintains great strength in this sector.

Analysts point out that the way Russia worked to improve defense shows that the commanders are most likely concerned about the possibility of large-scale offensive actions by Ukraine in two directions - in the north of Luhansk region or in the Zaporizhzhia region.

“A major Ukrainian breakthrough in Zaporizhzhia would seriously challenge the viability of Russia’s ‘land bridge’ linking Russia’s Rostov region and Crimea; Ukrainian success in Luhansk would further undermine Russia’s professed war aim of ‘liberating’ the Donbas. Deciding which of these threats to prioritise countering is likely one of the central dilemmas for Russian operational planners,” UK intelligence concluded. 

• On January 4, the Main Intelligence Directorate reported that the Russian forces are redeploying military units to the northern part of Crimea to hold the occupied territories.