The former commander of the British Army, retired General Richard Danat, in an interview with Sky News commented on the situation in Ukraine, saying that the Russian president has not achieved much so far in the course of military intervention.

He says the decisive battle is currently taking place in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, adding that the battle for the city of Severodonetsk is intensifying.

"Vladimir Putin has not achieved much in this war so far and that is why he feels very strongly that he must achieve some kind of victory. "In his mind, that probably means complete control of the Donbas region."

"Even if Russian forces make little progress, it will not bring them victory in the war."

Speaking about the situation in the devastated city of Mariupol, Danat said that the fall of Mariupol was expected, which means that "the Russians have now achieved the goal of creating a land corridor from Crimea through Mariupol to Donbass."