Despite Kremlin misrepresentation, Russia’s strategic goals in Ukraine remain unchanged

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared its new report.

"The Kremlin continues efforts to misrepresent its likely maximalist goals in Ukraine. ISW assesses that Russian strategic objectives remain unchanged: changing the regime change in Kyiv and securing territorial control over most of Ukraine," the report said.

Experts emphasize that Russian President Vladimir Putin did not mention the territory outside the Donetsk and Luhansk regions when describing the goals of Russia's war in Ukraine on August 15. Putin concluded his speech at the Army-2022 forum on August 15 with the statement that "our soldiers, together with the "fighters of Donbas", honorably fulfill their duty, fight for Russia, for a peaceful life in the "Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics", they clearly fulfill all the assigned tasks, step by step they liberate the "land of Donbas".

Such a limited statement about Russia's goals stands in stark contrast to Russia's previously stated military goals of "denazification" and "demilitarization" of Ukraine. Putin's relatively limited statement is also incompatible with Russia's actions regarding the "accession" of the occupied parts of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to the Russian Federation, the Institute believes.

Highlights

• Russian troops launched ground attacks through the eastern axis, but were unable to advance northwest of Slovyansk and east of Siversk

• The occupiers are conducting offensive actions in the Bakhmut area, southwest of Avdiyivka and southwest of Donetsk

• Russian forces conducted unsuccessful offensives in the north and northwest of the Kherson region

• The Russian Defense Ministry stated that Ukrainian forces in Nikopol are preparing for provocations at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, possibly creating informational conditions for further shelling of Nikopol or their own provocations

• Chechen units are redeployed to the Kherson region to protect Russian military deserters

• Russian troops are trying to recruit soldiers even for safe, prestigious jobs.