British intelligence assesses chances of Russians taking over Zaporizhzhya

The decision by the occupying Russian authorities to declare that Melitopol will be the "capital" of the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhya Region indicates that the Russians are unable to advance deep into the region. This is according to the UK Ministry of Defence's daily intelligence review on Twitter.

British intelligence has analysed a recent statement by collaborators in Zaporizhzhya region. Gauleiter Yevhen Balitskyy said that Melitopol would be the "capital" of the occupied part of Zaporizhzhya Region until Zaporizhzhya was under Russian control.

However, according to experts, Zaporizhzhia, which is now 35 km from the front line, is now too difficult a task for the Russians and "moving the capital" of the region is just further evidence of the occupiers' powerlessness.

It is known that on 3 March, the authorities of the Russian-controlled part of Zaporizhzhya Region published a decree declaring occupied Melitopol as the regional centre. The Russian-appointed head of the region, Yevhen Balitskyy, said that this was a temporary measure "until the city of Zaporizhzhya is under Russian control".

The quiet announcement of an alternative capital is probably a tacit admission within the Russian system that its forces are unlikely to be able to seize previously planned major targets in the near future, Britain believes.

Zaporizhzhya oblast is one of four oblasts that Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he will annex into the Russian Federation on 30 September 2022. Meanwhile, the regional centre itself has never been occupied by invaders.