Russian army reportedly plans local operations across entire front line
The Russian army plans local operations along the entire front line (photo: Getty Images)
Russian forces are likely to prioritize localized offensives across the entire front line in Ukraine to compel the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) to utilize reserves for defensive actions, according to a report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Several Ukrainian sources have reported an intensification of the Russian advance in the Kupiansk-Lyman and Bakhmut directions. Some sources also suggest that Russian Forces are likely preparing for more extensive actions in the Lyman direction shortly. Russian sources have repeatedly acknowledged intentions to continue active operations across the entire territory of Ukraine.
According to analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), in their local offensives, the Russians are unlikely to need to achieve significant territorial successes to compel Ukraine to expend valuable resources on defensive efforts.
Moreover, Ukrainian Forces are likely to struggle to efficiently use their equipment and personnel in repelling Russian offensives aimed at disrupting their ability to do so.
ISW experts note that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) risk depleting resources that the command had planned to preserve for their own counteroffensive operations while attempting to halt Russian attacks, possibly losing ground in the process.
What proceeded this
The possibility of a large-scale Russian offensive on the Ukrainian front in the summer of 2024, including potential attempts to seize Kharkiv or Kyiv, has been reported by the Financial Times. The intention may involve the complete occupation of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions, according to Ukrainian military sources.
The German publication Welt had earlier reported that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, is planning a new counteroffensive. Experts and journalists suggest that resources may be gathering for new operations in 2024.
Despite potential plans for offensives, the head of the Chief of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Major General, Kyrylo Budanov, believes that active drone usage and minefields remain significant obstacles on the front for both sides.
