ISW doubts Russia’s ability to make operationally significant breakthrough in Kupiansk sector

The relevant statement was made by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

Russian and Ukrainian sources reported that Russian forces have launched active offensive operations and advanced in the Kupiansk area in the past several days.

According to the ISW, Russian forces likely are engaging in offensive operations in this area of the front in an effort to exploit Ukrainian operational focus on other sectors of the front and draw Ukrainian reserves away from critical areas of the theater, namely the Bakhmut and western Donetsk, and western Zaporizhzhia region areas, where Ukrainian forces are pursuing counteroffensive operations.

The experts noted that the poor quality and composition of Russian troops currently deployed on this line, however, will likely hinder Russia’s ability to achieve more than tactically significant gains or make an operationally significant breakthrough.

Ukrainian and Russian sources have both reported the deployment of convict-formed “Storm-Z” assault units to the Kupiansk direction, and ISW has previously assessed that “Storm-Z” units have low operational effectiveness due to poor morale and discipline.

Ukrainian forces also continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut, south of Velyka Novosilka, and near Orikhiv in western Zaporizhzhia region throughout July 17.

A reminder that Ukraine’s Defense Forces advanced more than one kilometer in one of areas in the Berdiansk direction.

Photo: Telegram/Zelenskiy