Due to the latest successes of the Ukraine Armed Forces, Russia is preparing for decisive actions to regain the initiative.

The Russian leadership is preparing for decisive strategic actions to regain the initiative on the battlefield and end the long series of operational successes from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, warns the ISW. Russia did not achieve most of its main operational goals in Ukraine: to capture the Kyiv, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv, and Kherson regions. The Russian air and missile campaign against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure has not lead to significant strategic results. Therefore, the Kremlin has decided to change the fundamental aspects of its approach to the war and intensified both short-term and long-term efforts to form new units. Now the Russian forces are holding back mobilized forces for future use instead of throwing untrained troops immediately to the front, as they had before. In addition, the Russian Federation is trying to revive its defense and industrial base and strengthen the preparation of the Russian information space to maintain a protracted war.