The main Russian offensive, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had warned about earlier, appears to have begun in Lugansk Province, as Russian forces have regained the initiative in Ukraine, according to the US ISW in its latest report.
The Institute for the Study of War stated that the pace of Russian operations along the Stasova-Kramina front line in western Luhansk “increased significantly over the past week.”
Citing Russian sources, the think tank said reports claim that Russian forces are attacking Ukrainian defensive lines and making progress along the borders between Kharkiv and Luhansk provinces, particularly northwest of Svatova near Kobyansk and west of Kramina, as reported by the British Guardian newspaper.
Reports indicate that the Russian forces are almost reaching the outskirts of Troska, and it seems that they will advance towards the strategic city of Liman.
Earlier this week, Ukraine claimed that Russian forces had massed additional forces in the Donbass region for an expected offensive in the coming weeks, possibly targeting areas controlled by Ukrainian forces in Lugansk Province.
Meanwhile, the Russian forces continue to advance in Donetsk province, specifically in the vicinity of Bakhmut, as they advance in a “gradual nibbling” way in the region and inside the fortified city, where they engage in street fighting in the eastern regions of the city, while approaching cutting the road between Bakhmut and Slaviansk.
Other Russian forces are advancing from 3 directions towards the city of Seversk, north of Bakhmut, while other forces are advancing to complete the siege of the city of Uglidar, in the center of Donetsk canton.
According to the Institute for the Study of War, the main highlights of the latest report:
- Russian forces regained the initiative in Ukraine and began their next major offensive in Lugansk Province.
- The mobilization of at least 3 main Russian divisions indicates the commitment of Russian forces to offensive operations in this sector and the start of the main Russian offensive.
- Russian forces launched attacks around Bakhmut and continued the tactical advance.
- Russian forces continued their offensive operations northwest of Svatova and intensified their offensive operations near Kramina.
- Russian forces launched limited offensives in the Avidivka region and western Donetsk Province.
