Kremlin fails to achieve its goals in Ukraine by end of March - ISW

The Russian winter offensive operation has failed to achieve the Kremlin’s goal of seizing Donetsk and Luhansk region administrative borders by March 31.

This is said in the latest report issued by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), according to Ukrinform.

It is noted that Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov had announced on December 22 that Russian forces were focusing most of their efforts on seizing Donetsk region. In early February, Russian forces launched their winter offensive operation along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna-Lyman line and on select frontlines in western Donetsk region. However, the Russian winter offensive has failed to achieve the Kremlin’s goals of seizing the Donetsk and Luhansk region administrative borders by March 31.

ISW had long assessed that the Russian winter offensive is unlikely to be successful due to persistent failures of the Russian command.

ISW also assessed that Russia would lack the combat power necessary to sustain more than one major offensive operation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and ongoing recruitment campaigns in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territories may indicate that Russia is preparing for reserve shortages.

As Ukrinform reported, from February 24, 2022 to April 2, 2023, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated about 174,550 Russian soldiers, including 560 invaders in the past day alone.