Putin may be preparing new forces for offensive in Ukraine in fall, winter - ISW

This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"During a meeting with schoolchildren in Kaliningrad, Putin stated that the purpose of the “special military operation” is to eliminate the “anti-Russian enclave” that is forming in Ukraine and is an existential threat to the Russian state. Putin similarly invoked the concept of an “anti-Russia” in his February 24 speech declaring a “special operation” in Ukraine," the report says.

It is noted that Putin’s reiteration of an “anti-Russian” entity that must be defeated militarily to defend Russia reaffirms his maximalist intentions for Ukraine and is likely intended to set the information conditions to call for further Russian efforts and force generation going into the fall and winter of this year.

The Ukrainian General Staff stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin has extended the deadline for Russian forces to capture Donetsk Oblast from August 31 to the still highly unlikely target date of September 15, and Russian forces are conducting several redeployments to meet this goal.

In addition, the Russian Federation continues to respond to the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region, diverting military convoys to the south of Ukraine through the Kerch Bridge.

"These Russian deployments are likely intended to create the conditions for a revised operation to capture the Donetsk region, but it is unlikely that Russian forces will make the progress necessary to capture the region by September 15," analysts say.