Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at this time publicly announced that Russia’s long-expected Donbas offensive has now begun, with Russia boosting offensive operations all through jap Ukraine. What exactly meaning will not be but clear; whereas Russian missile and artillery strikes have escalated previously few days, the main points on Russian floor assaults aren’t but identified. The latest ISW report remains skeptical that Russia might be any extra profitable in these assaults than in its failed Kyiv operations, although heavy casualties on each side are all however assured.
One report suggests Russia could also be trying to encompass and take Slovyansk, southeast of Izyum; that is at odds with earlier intelligence suggesting—implausibly—that the Russian offensive can be geared toward taking far-off Dnipro, bypassing Ukraine’s most entrenched jap defenses totally. A Slovyansk assault can be a extra incremental method, however Ukrainian defenses there are strong.
Ukraine will not be solely defending, nonetheless. It is also persevering with to press Russian provide traces, a tactic that proved devastatingly efficient in degrading Russian forces round Kyiv to the purpose that Russia was pressured to retreat. Now these operations are concentrating on Russian traces resulting in Izyum, a metropolis just lately captured by Russia that has been the staging floor for these latest tried Russian drives southward.
There stay few eventualities during which Russian kleptocrat Vladimir Putin can carve out a win, regardless of how the conflict unfolds from right here. The sanctions presently dooming Russian makes an attempt to exchange the tools being misplaced are more likely to stay in impact for a few years to return. Whereas Putin has now arrested quite a few of his personal officers in an try to search out scapegoats for Russia’s shows of navy incompetence, the numerous alternatives for Russia to deescalate and declare partial victory at the moment are behind us. Throwing Russian troops haphazardly towards the frontlines in an try and exhaust Ukraine territorial protection forces no matter Russian prices seems to be one of many few plans Putin’s handpicked and thieving navy leaders imagine they may have the talents to perform.
A few of at this time’s information:
