Russia continues to prepare for new offensive - ISW

This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Western, Ukrainian, and Russian sources continue to indicate that Russia is preparing for an imminent offensive, supporting ISW’s assessment that an offensive in the coming months is the most likely course of action," the Institute said.

The analysts cited NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's statement on January 30 that Moscow doesn’t prepare for peace talks. Everything points to the opposite.

Stoltenberg noted that Russia can mobilize up to 200,000 troops and continues to purchase weapons and ammunition by increasing domestic production and partnering with authoritarian states such as Iran and North Korea.

He also added that Russian President Vladimir Putin maintains his maximalist goals in Ukraine.

For his part, Ivan Tymochko, the Reservists' Council of the Ukrainian Armed Forces head, said that Russian troops are reinforcing their grouping in Donbas as part of an expected offensive.

"Stoltenberg’s and Tymochko’s statements support ISW’s previous forecast that Russian forces are setting conditions to launch an offensive effort, likely in Luhansk Oblast, in the coming months," analysts emphasize.

Experts note that Russian military bloggers continued to point out that conditions are being created for a Russian offensive. Russia has not yet deployed all of its reserves.

ISW also emphasizes that Russia and Iran continue to make efforts to deepen economic ties.

• Earlier, Bloomberg wrote that despite the losses of the Russian army in the war with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is planning a new offensive that could begin in February or March.

• National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov said that the Russians were preparing for a new wave of an offensive in Ukraine by February 24 and were reconnoitering Ukraine's defense capabilities. Later, he emphasized that the government understands the threat of a repeat offensive by Russian troops on Ukrainian territory and is preparing vigorously.