Ukrainian Armed Forces' counteroffensive builds to crescendo in eastern Ukraine - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reports.

They note that at the end of September, Russians were unable to gain a foothold on the banks of the Oskil and Siverskyi Donets rivers in order to use them as natural borders to prevent the further advance of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. As a result, Ukrainian soldiers cleared the banks of the Oskil, forced the Siverskyi Donets and took the Lyman and the territories around it.

ISW writes that the terrain of Luhansk region is suitable for conducting a quick maneuverable war, which the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully used during the counteroffensive in Kharkiv region. They note that there are currently no indications in open sources that the Russian army has significantly strengthened its positions in the Luhansk region.

"Counteroffensives in Northern and Southern Ukraine are likely to force the Kremlin to prioritize the defense of one area of ​​operations over the other, potentially increasing the likelihood of Ukrainian success on both fronts" - ISW writes.

Also, ISW informs that Vladimir Putin has taken a number of measures to establish full control over the ZNPP, in particular, he signed a decree on the transfer of the plant to the state company "Rosenergoatom", and also appointed a new head of it. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russians are forcing Ukrainian workers at the ZNPP to obtain Russian passports and sign employment contracts with Rosenergoatom.

In addition, media report that Vladimir Putin has given Ramzan Kadyrov the rank of colonel general.

Other key findings of the report published by ISW include:

Ukrainian troops have probably consolidated their positions and regrouped in the north of Kherson region after achieving significant success during the last 48 hours. 

Russian sources report preparations for an offensive by Ukrainians to the northwest, west, and northeast of Kherson. 

On October 5, Russian troops continued ground shelling of the Donetsk region. 

Administrators of Russian Telegram channels about the war continued to criticize Russia's "partial mobilization" on October 5, for which several of them were detained. 

Russian authorities deliberately continue to send Russian national minorities and those Russians who are in an unfavorable economic situation to the war with Ukraine. 

Vladimir Putin has already completed all formalities in the process of illegal annexation of Ukrainian territories.