Russia may have to divide its troops to stop Ukraine's counterattack.

The British Ministry of Defense said Russia may have to split its forces to prevent Ukraine's counter-offensive in Orikhiv while continuing its attack in Kupiansk.

In its September 2 intelligence assessment of the Ukrainian battlefield, the British Ministry of Defense said Kiev forces were maintaining counter-offensive momentum on the Orikhiv axis in the south of the country, approaching Russia's main defense line.

"Russian forces, mainly made up of the 58th Combined Army and airborne units, are seeking to both halt the Ukrainian counter-offensive and maintain their offensive on the northern axis around Kupiansk," the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The ministry added that by increasing pressure on Kupiansk, the Russian military may be trying to draw Ukrainian forces away from the counter-offensive in Orikhiv. This means Russia will increase its forces to continue the attack in Kupiansk.

But to do that, the Russian army will likely have to split its already stretched forces along its front line. In the event that the reinforcements for the Kupiansk spur fail, Russia faces a great risk of losing the Orikhiv axis.

Ukrainian soldiers next to a rocket launcher near the front line in Zaporizhzhia province on August 19. Photo: Reuters — Ukrainian soldiers next to a rocket launcher near the front line in Zaporizhzhia province on August 19. Photo: *Reuters*

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said today that the country's army is continuing its advance, rejecting criticism from some Western officials that Kiev is counterattacking too slowly.

"Ukrainian forces are moving forward. Despite everything and regardless of what anyone says, we are moving forward and that is the most important thing," Mr. Zelensky said.

Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said on September 1 that the Ukrainian army had broken through the first Russian defense line and was continuing to push south on the Orikhiv axis, with the strategic target being the city of Melitopol. The White House also said Ukraine had achieved "notable success" in the Zaporizhzhia region.