UKRAINE: THE SITUATION 355 - FEBRUARY 11, 2023

Ukrainian military personnel and Russian war proponents downplay Russia's ability to launch a large-scale offensive in the Donetsk region under the current circumstances as Russian forces prepare to intensify their attacks in eastern Ukraine in the coming weeks and are currently looking for weaknesses in Ukrainian defenses.

The ISW has previously noted that Russian forces have regained the initiative along the Svatove-Kreminna line, but the offensive has not yet reached its full pace. Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces spokesperson Colonel Serhiy Cherewaty also mentioned that the Russian leadership has ordered the taking of the administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts, and stated that the grinding Russian operations in Bakhmut are a "symbol" of Russia's inability to conduct quick and strong offensive operations. Russian military bloggers continue to be demoralized about the Kremlin's prospects for conducting a major offensive. Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) commander Alexander Khodakovsky questioned why Russian forces are wasting their limited resources on small forays instead of building combat power for larger offensives. Another military blogger echoed Khodakovsky's concerns and accused the Russian presidential administration of raising unrealistic expectations for Russian offensives.

The complete Russian Offensive Update 355 is available directly from UNDERSTANDING WAR.

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