Russia suffering devastating losses among mid- and junior-ranking officers, says UK intelligence

According to the report, brigade and battalion commanders likely deploy forwards into harm's way because they are held to an uncompromising level of responsibility for their units' performance.

Similarly, junior officers have had to lead the lowest level tactical actions, as the army lacks a cadre of highly trained and empowered non-commissioned officers (NCOs) who fulfil that role in Western forces.

"The loss of large proportion of the younger generation of professional officers will likely exacerbate its ongoing problems in modernizing its approach to command and control," the ministry's assessment reads.

It is noted that more immediately, battalion tactical groups (BTGs) which are being reconstituted in Ukraine from survivors of multiple units are likely to be less effective due to a lack of junior leaders.

"With multiple credible reports of localized mutinies amongst Russia's forces in Ukraine, a lack of experienced and credible platoon and company commanders is likely to result to a further decrease in morale and continued poor discipline," reads the report.