Russian forces to conduct local operations along entire front line - ISW

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

On January 19, Lieutenant Colonel Volodymyr Fitio, spokesman for the Ukrainian Army's Land Forces Command, said that the entire eastern front from Kupyansk to Bakhmut was active and reported that Russian strikes had intensified in the Kupyansk-Lyman and Bakhmut directions.

Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets also noted that Russian troops have recently launched an offensive in certain areas in the Lyman sector, in particular west of Svatove and west and southwest of Kreminna. Mashovets noted that Russian troops are likely preparing for larger-scale actions in the Lyman sector in the near future.

Several Russian sources also acknowledged their intention to continue active operations throughout Ukraine.

According to ISW experts, the Russian troops will likely not have to achieve significant territorial success in their local offensives to force Ukraine to spend valuable resources on defense efforts.

The report says that Ukrainian troops will not be able to rationally use equipment and personnel to repel enemy assaults aimed at preventing them from doing so.

ISW experts warn that the Ukrainian Armed Forces risk wasting resources that the command had been saving for its own counteroffensive operations in an attempt to stop Russian attacks, and are likely to lose ground in the process.

• According to the General Staff, 103 combat engagements took place at the front. The Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 33 Russian attacks in the Avdiivka sector and eliminated 750 Russian soldiers.