Ukraine sees strongest front-line position in 10 months — ISW
A Ukrainian soldier in Bakhmut, Donetsk region (photo: Getty Images)
The front-line situation for Ukraine's Defense Forces is better than it has been since June of last year. Spring weather is also expected to complicate Russian troop movements, according to Ukrainian and British intelligence, as reported by ISW.
The Institute for the Study of War noted, citing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that Russians had previously used poor visibility during fog to carry out attacks and infiltration, conditions that hinder Ukrainian drones and allow occupying forces to conduct ground operations.
"Ukraine also achieved tactical and operational successes that may be increasingly generating strategic effects throughout late winter 2025 and early spring," the ISW report said.
The Institute also states that Ukrainian forces began achieving significant tactical successes in southern Ukraine in late January 2026, creating cascading operational effects across the front and forcing Russian troops to choose between defending against Ukrainian counterattacks or reallocating manpower and forces to other sectors.
Previously, ISW assessed that Ukrainian counterattacks may have even disrupted Russia's plans for a spring–summer 2026 offensive campaign.
"Russian officials have repeatedly attempted to perpetuate a false narrative that the Ukrainian frontlines are on the verge of collapse in an effort to convince the West to capitulate to Russian demands that Russia cannot secure militarily. Ukraine's recent successes indicate that Ukraine is not at risk of collapse, however," the Institute for the Study of War added.
The report also indicates that Ukraine's efforts in technological innovation are increasingly affecting Russia. Ukrainian drone strikes alone killed or seriously wounded 33,988 Russian troops in March 2026, while Ukrainian artillery and other strikes eliminated another 1,363 occupying forces.
Earlier, media outlets reported that Ukraine's Defense Forces are planning to change the way service members are trained, with a primary focus on technological skills and countering enemy drones.
In addition, the General Staff recently reported that Ukraine will no longer send troops abroad for basic military training.
