Russia is closing in on Ukraine’s second-largest power station, according to British military intelligence.

Yesterday, the governor of Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, Vitaly Kim, said Russian forces used air defense missiles to hit infrastructure and energy facilities.

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) said Russia was using air defense missiles indiscriminately and with little training because it lacked ground attack missiles.

The MoD update reads: “In Donbass, Ukrainian forces continue to repel Russian attempts to assault Vuhlehirsk power plant. Russian artillery remains concentrated in the areas around the towns of Kramatorsk and Siversk.

“Russia has increased its use of air defense missiles in a secondary ground attack mode due to critical shortages of dedicated ground attack missiles.

“Russia almost certainly deployed strategic S-300 and S-400 air defense systems, designed to shoot down long-range aircraft and missiles, near Ukraine from the start of the invasion.

“These weapons have relatively small warheads, designed to destroy aircraft. They could pose a significant threat to troops in open, light buildings, but are unlikely to penetrate hardened structures.

Mykolaiv is near the front lines separating Ukrainian and Russian troops along the regional border with Kherson.