Russian forces maintaining pressure throughout front to prevent Ukraine from seizing initiative - ISW

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) made such a conclusion after analyzing the expansion of the area of responsibility of Russia's Central Grouping of Forces in the Donetsk region, Ukrinform reports.

"The Russian military command is currently attempting to maintain consistent offensive pressure throughout the front to prevent Ukraine from contesting the battlefield initiative, and tasking the Central Grouping of Forces with grinding offensive operations along a longer front is more in line with this effort than tasking the grouping with achieving tactically significant gains through relatively rapid maneuver," the report reads.

According to ISW analysts, the Russian military command has deprioritized the grouping's previous task to act solely as an operational maneuver force in the Avdiivka direction. The Russian military command may instead be tasking the Central Grouping of Forces with overseeing the bulk of Russia's main offensive efforts in the Donetsk region.

According to experts, this indicates that the Russian military command may assess that rapid tactical gains in the Avdiivka area are unlikely.

"The Central Grouping of Forces likely lacks the reserves necessary to intensify operations in the Avdiivka area to the degree that would facilitate relatively rapid gains while maintaining offensive pressure in the Toretsk and Donetsk City directions," ISW analysts said.