British intelligence said on Sunday that Russian forces are getting ready for a Ukrainian offensive in the strategically important town of Tokmak in southern Ukraine, which is approximately 16km behind the current front line.

The report says that Russia is setting up checkpoints, “hedgehog” anti-tank defences and digging new trenches in the area, which is held by its 58th Combined Arms Army.

“Tokmak is preparing to become a lynchpin of Russian’s second main line of defences”, the Ministry of Defence said.

Improvements to the town’s defences likely indicates Russia’s growing concern about Ukraine breaking through the first line of defence in the northern part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, it said.