Russia plans to maintain checkpoints with temporarily occupied areas in Ukraine - ISW

Checkpoints between Russia and temporarily occupied territories in eastern Ukraine significantly slow the supply of Russian ammunition to the front lines, but Moscow does not plan to stop their operation for security reasons.

The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said this in a new Russian offensive campaign assessment, according to Ukrinform.

"The existence of these checkpoints further highlights that Russian officials do not view the residents of occupied Ukraine as Russian nationals and are governing as the occupying power they are," ISW analysts said.

They added that the Kremlin may also use these checkpoints to prevent the mass movement of men from occupied Ukraine escaping forced mobilization, to stop Russian mobilized personnel from fleeing to Russia, and to maintain Russian filtration measures.