ISW names priority directions for Russian forces in Ukraine

Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have identified six main geographic directions for Russian troops. The most active combat operations are conducted in these areas, and they are the Russian forces' priority lines of action in the war against Ukraine.

This is stated in the ISW report: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-august-14

Active hostilities are taking place in the following areas:

Analysts emphasize that none of these groups is homogeneous - units of various military districts, volunteer units and other formations are scattered throughout the direction. These dispositions indicate that Moscow prefers to advance its troops around Bakhmut and, perhaps, to Siversk, while trying to use the activity of the forces of the so-called DPR to capture territories that they have not managed to capture since 2014 in the Avdiyivka direction.

"The high concentration of volunteer battalions around Izyum and Slovyansk indicates that this area is not in the focus of Russia's attention and may be vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks," the report says.

A buildup of forces in and around the Kherson region could create significant difficulties for Russian command and control, especially if Ukrainian forces continue a counteroffensive there, experts say.

The Institute noted that the composition of Russian troops along the Southern direction is relatively more diverse than in other directions. The Russian military leadership probably sent mixed forces to this area to protect it from the expected Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Key conclusions of the Institute's analysts: