Occupiers try to create conditions for an offensive in Kherson and Zaporizhzhya: ISW's analysis of the fighting

The Ukrainian General Staff has been reporting for several days that Russian troops are attempting to create conditions for an offensive in certain sections of the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson directions. At the same time, they are shelling civilian settlements from temporarily occupied territory.

Meanwhile, analysts of the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) note that they see no signs of the Russian Armed Forces preparing for a prolonged offensive in the aforementioned directions. This was said in their report dated March 5.

According to the Ukrainian Armed Forces' General Staff, the enemy is defending in the Zaporizhzhya and Kherson directions and at the same time trying to improve its tactical position for a renewed offensive. During March 4, the occupiers shelled more than 40 settlements in these regions, as well as in Mykolaiv, with artillery fire, resulting in civilian casualties.

The General Staff also published the same data in a military situation summary on the evening of 5 March. In particular, it was stated that in some parts of the front in the Zaporizhia and Kherson directions, the occupiers were trying to create conditions for a transition to an offensive. It was also known about enemy artillery shelling of more than 35 districts of populated areas in Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson regions - again with casualties among civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure.

"ISW has not recorded any indication that Russian troops are preparing for prolonged offensive operations in Zaporizhzhia region or any offensive activities in Kherson region," the analysts said.

They added, however, that in the previous 24 hours, the Russian occupation forces continued to carry out limited ground attacks to the northwest and south of Kremenna in Luhansk Region.

And in Donetsk Region, the invaders carried out ground strikes near Avdiivka and on the western outskirts of Donetsk. Propagandists even claimed that the Russian Armed Forces had allegedly "advanced to Pervomayskoye", which is 8 km north-west of the regional centre.

The same ISW report said that the occupiers were now more focused on the capture of Bakhmut. Due to the gruelling fighting and significant losses, analysts say, the Russian Armed Forces will not have the strength for another prolonged offensive similar to the battle for Bakhmut in the coming months.

As OBOZREVATEL reported, Deputy Defence Minister Anna Malyar stressed that the Russian invaders refuse to go on the offensive when they learn the truth about their own losses in the war against Ukraine. Information about the number of wounded and liquidated comrades demoralises the occupiers.

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