UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 139 - JULY 8, 2022

The head of the Luhansk regional administration, Serhiy Haidai, has stated that Russian forces have not observed an operational pause since July 8, but continue to shell settlements and deploy additional armored units to the Donbass. Haidai's statement likely reflects confusion about the meaning of the term "operational pause" and how such a "pause" actually affects a war on the ground.

The US military doctrine extensively discusses the role of operational pauses in warfare and campaigns. It states: "Normally, operational pauses are planned to regenerate combat power or build up forces for the next phase." It notes that "the main disadvantage of operational pauses is the risk of losing strategic or operational initiative." Therefore, it recommends: "If pauses are necessary, the [commander] can alternate between components to ensure continuous pressure on the enemy or adversary by taking offensive actions of some components while others pause." Soviet military theory viewed operational pauses in a similar way - sometimes necessary, but always dangerous.

Russian forces continue to conduct limited offensive operations north of Sloviansk.

Russian forces continue their efforts to advance from Lysychansk to Siversk, but have not achieved any confirmed territorial gains.

Russian forces have launched attacks on Dementivka to disrupt Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) along Highway T2117.

Russian forces are continuing their attacks on settlements along the border between the regions of Kherson and Mykolaiv, as well as Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk, to regain lost positions.

The Russian Federation Council has approved a bill committing the Kremlin to pay veteran benefits to civilians involved in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The full Russian Offensive Update 139 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

UNDERSTANDING WAR online