Russia currently has more than half a million troops on the front line of the “bleak” war with Ukraine, according to the latest figures.
This number significantly outweighs Ukrainian forces, who are also grappling with dwindling ammunition supplies while they wait for international aid.
Dr Jack Watling from The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) said: “The Russian forces have now expanded to 510,000 troops. The outlook for Ukraine is bleak. Its allies must replenish stockpiles.”
This comes as Russian forces continue their assault in the east of Ukraine, aiming to capture more territory as a summer offensive looms.
They are currently trying to capture Kharvik, Ukraine’s second largest city, which Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said had “caught the West napping”.
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Vladimir Putin’s forces have also been targeting areas in the northeast of Ukraine, specifically the town of Vovchansk, in a ground offensive that opened a new front and put more pressure on overstretched Ukrainian forces.
The renewed northeast offensive, launched late last week, was the most significant border incursion since the full-scale invasion began.
In just two days, Moscow has captured from 38 to 47 square miles that include at least seven villages, most of them already depopulated, according to two open source monitoring analysts.
They were seeking to divert and distract Ukrainian troops across the 620-mile frontline until a big batch of new military aid for Kyiv from the US and Europe arrives in the coming weeks and months.
Yurii Federenko, commander of the ACHILLES battalion of the 92nd brigade, said small batches of US military aid have started to arrive, but it will take at least two months before incoming supplies will meet Kyiv’s needs to hold the line.
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He said: “They now have an opportunity to attack us while we cannot properly reply.”
“In order to achieve success, in my opinion, in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, the enemy needed to spread … our defense forces. Accordingly, the enemy started the campaign in Kharkiv region specifically”
Attacking Kharkiv has kept Ukrainian forces stuck in the region, while drawing reserves away from battles in Avdiivka and Chasiv Yar, where Russia’s advance has been far more significant and strategically important.
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