ISW: Russian army increases number and scale of mechanized ground assaults
Kyiv • UNN
Over the past two weeks, Russian troops have increased the number and scale of mechanized ground attacks in certain areas of the frontline, likely to intensify their offensive and take advantage of Ukraine's lack of supplies before Western aid arrives.
Over the past two weeks, Russian troops have increased the number and scale of ground mechanized attacks in certain areas of the frontline. This is stated in the latest report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW), UNN reports.
Details
ISW notes in its report that it is likely that Russian forces will intensify mechanized attacks before the muddy terrain becomes more pronounced in the spring and makes mechanized maneuver warfare more difficult. Russian forces may also intensify mechanized offensives to take advantage of Ukraine's material shortages before expected Western aid arrives.
According to analysts, the intensification of Russian mechanized offensives usually occurs simultaneously with the intensification of missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian energy facilities. For example, Russian troops stepped up their strike campaign in Ukraine, launching a series of attacks on hydroelectric power plants in late March.
Russian forces may intensify their strikes to put further pressure on the Ukrainian command to deploy air defense systems away from the front to more safely activate support aircraft.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said on April 3 that the United States assessed that Russia has "almost completely rebuilt itself militarily over the past few months," indicating that Russia is preparing and may already have sufficient manpower and material to significantly intensify its current offensive operations or launch an offensive in new areas of war.
