Offensive operations all over the front: how will the Russian Federation in the near future - isw
The report of January 19 states that the pressecretic of the Command of the Land Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Fityo said that although the Ukrainian forces are destroying Russian tanks and armored vehicles in large quantities, much more resources in the reserve. Also, Konstantin Mashovets's military observer stated that Russian troops have recently been "on the offensive" in certain sections of the front.
ISW estimated that Russian forces can activate efforts to capture Kupyansk in Kharkiv in the next weeks. According to analysts, defense operations do not necessarily provide Ukraine with more opportunities to accumulate reserves. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Armed Forces often use the same weapons and equipment for both defense and offensive operations.
"The offensive operations required more material means and living power than defense operations in Ukraine, as in most wars, but Russian and Ukrainian forces regularly suffered significant losses in defense," analysts said. The ISW stated that the pace of offensive operations of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and "cryptomobilization", which continues, allow the Kremlin to carry out regular rotations at the operational level.
However, large reserves of the Russian Federation are unlikely to be able to accumulate. "Russian troops have recently spent a considerable amount of equipment during unsuccessful offensive operations in eastern Ukraine and are currently using artillery ammunition much faster than can make a defense-industrial base of Russia, which is gradually mobilized," the report reads.