Russian army still failing to gain ground in Donbas, says Institute for the Study of War

The New Voice of Ukraine
·2 min read
24
A Ukrainian soldier prepares shells for the M777 howitzer
A Ukrainian soldier prepares shells for the M777 howitzer

Earlier, ISW analysts warned that information about a probable Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson Oblast will likely be limited and arrive with a delay.

Their latest report points out that Ukrainian officials "increasingly recognize counter-offensive operations" in the region, referring to the words of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kherson Regional Councilmember Sergey Khlan, and data from the Ukrainian military’s Operational Command South.

Read also: Russian command facing dilemma in Donbas and southern Ukraine, says British intel

According to the ISW, the major points of the combat situation in Ukraine over the past day include:

  • Russian forces attempting limited ground assaults northwest of Slovyansk, east of Siversk, and south of Bakhmut on July 24;

  • Ukrainian strikes damaging all three Russian-controlled bridges leading into Kherson City within the past week;

  • Russian forces attempting limited ground assaults in Kherson Oblast;

  • The Kremlin facing mounting (if still very limited) domestic dissent from ethnic minorities who are disproportionately bearing the burden of the Russian war in Ukraine (specifically, protest groups have emerged in the Tuva and Buryatia republics);

  • The Kremlin continuing to create regional volunteer battalions and leveraging private military companies’ recruitment drives to generate combat power;

  • Russian occupation authorities continuing to set conditions for an annexation “referendum” in the occupied territories and recruiting Russian civilians for reconstruction efforts.

<span class="copyright">ISW</span>
ISW

Battle for Donbas

Russian troops conducted a limited ground attack northwest of Slovyansk on July 24, but failed to take control of Bohorodychne (20 km northwest of Slovyansk).

Also, the Russian army continued ground attacks east of Siversk on the same day. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the Russian troops unsuccessfully tried to advance west from Verkhniokamyanka and Bilohorivka towards Verkhniokamyanske (5 km east of Siversk).

Read also: Two Americans, Canadian and Swede killed in tank attack in Donbas

The invading forces also persist with ground attacks to the south of Bakhmut — in particular, to assume control over the Vuhledarsk thermal power plant and Novoluhanske. However, according to army command, Russian troops failed to advance from the village of Roty to Semyhirya, approximately 20 km southeast of Bakhmut.

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