Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukraine has obtained information that Russia is preparing to attack a dam in the southern region of Kherson.

Zelenskyy warned Russia on Thursday, saying that destroying the dam at a hydroelectric power plant near the Dnipro river would cause a major disaster that could cut the water supply to the Crimea region.

In the Kherson region, Ukrainian forces are stepping up their counteroffensive to recapture areas occupied by Russian forces.

The Ukrainians are believed to be advancing to the region's main city of Kherson.

Britain's defense ministry indicated in its intelligence update on Thursday that Russian authorities are seriously considering a major withdrawal of their forces from the area west of the Dnipro river, where the city of Kherson is located.

Meanwhile, Russian troops have arrived in Belarus, which shares a border with northern Ukraine, and is close to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

Belarus' defense ministry has made an announcement on joint drills with Russian forces.

But the British defense ministry said on Friday that it is unlikely Russia has deployed a significant number of troops to Belarus. The ministry indicated Russia aims to convince Ukraine to divert its forces to guard the northern border.