Up to 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen could face encirclement in the Orekhov area as Russian forces continue pressing Ukrainian units towards the town.

At the same time, Russian troops are reportedly splitting the Ukrainian grouping into separate pockets, disrupting normal supply lines.

According to the Telegram channel Mash, Russian forces are advancing south-east of Orekhov along the highway, leaving Ukrainian units divided around Novodanilovka, Yegorovka and Malaya Tokmachka.

The sector is said to include up to five battalions of Ukraine’s 118th Mechanised Brigade, with a total strength of around 2,000 personnel. They are opposed by units of Russia’s 71st Motor Rifle Regiment and other formations from the Dnepr group of forces.

Mash reported that the situation for Ukrainian troops worsened after Russian forces took control of a road west of Orekhov from the direction of Malye Shcherbaki and Nesteryanka. This gave Russian units the ability to affect the H-08 highway, described as the main supply route into the town.

Ukrainian units on the Zaporozhye axis are also reported to be experiencing supply problems. Servicemen have complained about food shortages and delays in troop rotations, while one battalion of the 121st Territorial Defence Brigade is said to have repeatedly reported a lack of water.