Western analysts said that the capture of Ocheretino was part of Russia’s consolidation of control along one section of the frontline and its strategic significance was limited. More important is the battle for Chasiv Yar, a town built on high ground that defends a handful of other cities in the valleys below. There, sources said Ukrainian forces continued to defend against waves of near-suicidal Russian attacks.

The British Ministry of Defence has said that Russia’s army has now suffered 465,000 casualties, dead or injured, in more than two years of war. This is roughly the population of Liverpool.

However, it said Russia could absorb the high casualty rate amid the Kremlin’s plans to  reorientate society and the economy to feed its war machine.

“Despite the extreme cost in life, Russia has fully adapted its military to attritional warfare which relies on mass over quality,” it said in its daily security briefing.

Ukrainian generals have briefed that the situation along the front line is dire but Jake Sullivan, the US national security adviser, has told the FT that Ukraine will be able to hold off Russian attacks with a resupply of weapons and even prepare for a new counteroffensive next year.

In April, after a delay of several months, US lawmakers approved £48 billion in military aid to Ukraine.