UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 129 - JUNE 28, 2022

The Ukrainian armed forces are likely conducting a fighting withdrawal that could soon include the withdrawal from Lysychansk and the Luhansk region.

The Ambassador of the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) in Russia, Rodion Miroshnik, and Russian military bloggers claimed that the Ukrainian armed forces began a large-scale withdrawal from Lysychansk towards Siversk, Kramatorsk, and Slovyansk on June 28. Although ISW cannot independently confirm Miroshnik's claims of an ongoing withdrawal, it is possible that the Ukrainian armed forces will continue the withdrawal started in Severodonetsk towards Ukrainian strongholds around Siversk, Kramatorsk, and Slovyansk. The determined but limited Ukrainian defense of Severodonetsk has proven costly for the Russians despite new Russian tactics aimed at limiting Russian losses. Kyiv could continue this approach until the Russian attack reaches its peak or until the Ukrainian armed forces reach better-defensible positions along a straight line with fortified towns and villages.

The Russian armed forces launched unsuccessful offensives north of Slovyansk and conducted spoiler attacks on settlements west of Izyum, likely to disrupt Ukrainian counteroffensives.

The Russian armed forces continued to deploy military equipment and personnel east of Melitopol.

The full Russian Offensive Update 129 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online