The Russians are strengthening their defenses near the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

 Russian forces continue to build up and consolidate their forces in eastern Ukraine to bolster their defensive capabilities against prolonged Ukrainian counteroffensives near the border of the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions and to support their limited offensive effort in the Donetsk region, said analysts at the ISW. In addition, it is noted that soldiers from the Wagner group, with the support of units of the 1st and 2nd army corps, bear great responsibility for conducting offensive operations in the Donetsk region, especially around Bakhmut and the western outskirts of Donetsk. The Russian military leadership is still seeking to make additional gains within the Donetsk region, but it is unlikely that the current Russian military strategy will enable Moscow to achieve this goal, the report said.