The Armed Forces of Ukraine are strengthening their defensive positions in certain sectors of the front and this is a reasonable step: ISW analysis

Analysts explained the actions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield/Collage 24 Channel

In winter, in difficult weather, the Ukrainian military is consolidated in positions where they do not conduct counter-offensives. By such actions, the Armed Forces of Ukraine preserve manpower and resources for future offensive actions.

Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War note that Vladimir Zelensky is still 30 November 2023 held a meeting in Zaporozhye regarding fortifications. It was about speeding up the construction of structures.

Then the president spoke about the following sectors of the front:

• Avdeevskoe, Maryinskoe and other directions in the Donetsk region – maximum attention;
• in the Kharkov region – this is the Kupyansk direction, as well as the defense line Kupyansk – Liman and the entire Kharkov region;
• Sumshchyna and Chernihiv region, and Kiev and Rivne regions, Volyn and Kherson region.

That is, Ukraine is trying to increase fortification and defense capabilities throughout the entire theater of operations. Including where Russian troops are conducting offensive operations.

What analysts say about Ukraine's position

Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War are convinced that the establishment of Ukrainian tactical defense positions will most likely:

• strengthen the ability of Ukrainian strength to defend against continuous and costly Russian attacks with fewer forces of its own and/or incurring fewer losses during the defense;
• could become a springboard for future Ukrainian offensive operations, where and when Ukrainian forces decide to resume them.

Creation local defense positions in areas that Kiev does not consider a priority for current or future counteroffensive operations is a sensible step and does not indicate that Ukraine has abandoned all plans for upcoming counteroffensives, analysts said.

They also explained that Russian troops were likely to launch offensive operations on many sectors of the front during the difficult weather conditions of the fall and winter season, trying to seize and maintain the initiative until the March 2024 presidential elections in Russia.

What else is ISW saying about the situation at the front

• ISW said that Russian troops are conducting offensive operations along most of the front line in Ukraine. In particular, the Russians are advancing along the border of the Kharkov and Lugansk regions, near Bakhmut and in the direction of Avdeevka. The occupiers are making continuous ground attacks in the western Zaporozhye region.
• Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War are convinced that Russian troops have been trying to regain the initiative on the battlefield since at least mid-November 2023.
• However, ISW explains that it remains unclear whether current Russian offensive operations will create the conditions for Russian forces to achieve operationally significant gains in the near future. By the way, according to analysts, Russian troops are not accumulating unattracted reserves in preparation for larger-scale winter operations.