Due to significant losses, the Russian offensive slowed down everywhere except Severodonetsk/Illustrative photo, AP< p _ngcontent-sc88="" class="news-annotation">Fierce fighting continues in Severodonetsk. And although over the past day, June 18, the Russians achieved little success on the outskirts of the city, they slowed down in other directions.
All because the enemy suffers insane losses. The Institute for the Study of War concluded that Russian troops would face even greater losses and wear and tear of personnel and equipment, which would complicate attempts to resume offensive operations at other critical points.
Russian forces will be able to capture Severodonetsk in the coming weeks
ISW predicts that Russian forces will probably be able to capture Severodonetsk in the coming weeks, but only if they concentrate most of their forces in this area.
Other Russian operations in eastern Ukraine, in particular plans to seize Sloviansk and advance east of Bakhmut, have made little progress in the past two weeks.The Russians have also made little progress in pushing Ukrainian forces away from the occupied borders towards north of Kharkov and along the southern axis, making them vulnerable to Ukrainian counter-offensive and partisan pressure.
Note:On the morning of June 18, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Russians were trying to storm the outskirts of Severodonetsk, but the Ukrainian soldiers managed to push the invaders back. However, the enemy continues to shell the positions of our troops and civilian infrastructure with cannon artillery and multiple launch rocket systems.
The occupiers still lack morale
The Russian military continues to face morale and discipline problems. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine released information about intercepted phone calls on June 17 and 18, in which Russian soldiers complained about advanced conditions, poor equipment and a general shortage of personnel. One soldier stated that the units were severely depleted and that only 10 to 15 troops remained in some battalion tactical groups (BTGs).
Key expert findings
- Russian forces have made little progress in the vicinity of Severodonetsk and probably advanced in Metelkino, but the Russian advance remains very slow.
- The invaders tried to block the Ukrainian lines of communication on the T1302 Bakhmut-Lysichansk highway and inflicted ground and artillery strikes along the highway.
- The enemies are also seeking to push Ukrainian forces out of the artillery fire zone of the railroad tracks around Kharkov, which were used to support Russian operations in the direction of Slovyansk.
- At the same time, the Russian invaders did not take any significant actions along the southern axis and continue face partisan pressure in the occupied territories of southern Ukraine.
