Russian troops have begun the active phase of their spring-summer offensive in the Donetsk region, changing their tactics and focusing their efforts on several areas at once. This was reported by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), noting that the key goal of the occupiers is to break through the Ukrainian "belt of fortresses.".
This is a strategic line of defense that includes such important cities as Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Konstantinovka. These settlements remain key to deterring further Russian advances in the region.
One of the main directions of the offensive was Lymansky. According to the Ukrainian military, on March 19 alone, the Russians launched a large-scale attack, involving more than 500 infantrymen, dozens of armored vehicles, as well as a significant number of light mobile vehicles - motorcycles, buggies and all-terrain vehicles. This format of the offensive is significantly different from the previous tactics of massive mechanized columns.
Experts note that the Russian army is increasingly using force dispersion: equipment and units operate in parallel on different sections of the front. This complicates defense and forces Ukrainian forces to respond to several threats simultaneously.
At the same time, air strikes and drone attacks have significantly intensified. In particular, KAB-3000 guided aerial bombs, as well as Lancet and Molniya drones, are being actively used. According to analysts, such strikes are aimed at destroying logistics and exhausting the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense capabilities before ground attacks.
At the same time, Russian troops are also increasing their activity in the southern direction - in the areas of Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivka. There, the transfer of additional forces, increased artillery shelling, and an increase in the number of strikes by tactical aircraft are being recorded.
The Ukrainian military notes that the enemy is preparing the conditions for a larger offensive, trying to capture the "belt of fortresses" from two sides at once - from the northeast and south.
In addition, a systematic campaign to destroy Ukrainian supply lines is underway. Strikes on transport infrastructure and frontline settlements are aimed at complicating the supply of Ukrainian units and weakening their defense capabilities.
According to military estimates, the coming weeks may become decisive for the situation on this section of the front, as the Russian army is trying to use weather conditions and accumulated resources to achieve tactical and operational results.
