The Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces have likely abandoned intentions to grab territory in sections of Ukraine’s east and will instead focus on taking over the Luhansk region of the Donbas.
Russian forces have most likely abandoned intentions to achieve “a large-scale encirclement of Ukrainian battalions from Donetsk City to Izyum”; which offers daily updates on the military situation. Moscow is also believed to have cut back plans to move 30 miles north of Slovyansk to Izyum.”
The military’s apparent diminution in goals in its eastern push comes as Russian forces are likely short on trained reservists, according to the institution. Last month, Russia declared its goal to be the “complete liberation of the Donetsk and Luhansk republics,” which make up the Donbas region.
