Russian troops resumed localized ground attacks to the northwest and southwest of the Ukrainian city of Izyum and, possibly, create conditions for offensive operations further to the west of the Kharkov region or in the direction of Kharkov, experts of the American Institute for Studying War report ( ISW).
“Russian forces held the positions around Balaklia and the Great Kamyshevakhi for several months and can use these two districts as a bridgehead for an offensive operation,” American experts say.
In their opinion, Russian forces are unlikely to be able to capture the Kharkov region or take Kharkov – the second largest population of the city of Ukraine, taking into account the pace of promotion in the Donbass and persistent problems with the formation of forces and logistics.
Russian troops can also attack in order to prevent the counterattack of Ukrainian troops, experts say.