For the sake of capturing Severodonetsk and other cities in the Donbass, the Russian army sacrifices its forces in other areas than the Armed Forces of Ukraine use. This is stated in the report of the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

“Moscow's focus on capturing Severodonetsk and Donbas continues to create vulnerabilities for Russia in Ukraine's vital Kherson region, where Ukrainian counter-offensives continue.. Kherson is a critical location, as it is the only territory in Ukraine where Russian troops hold positions on the western bank of the Dnieper River. If Russia can maintain a strong location in Kherson when the fighting stops, it will be in a very strong position to launch a future invasion,” the ISW report says..

Analysts believe that if Ukraine returns Kherson, it will be in a stronger position to defend against the upcoming Russian attack.

But Russian President Vladimir Putin has decided to concentrate all the forces and resources that can be put together in a desperate and bloody attempt to seize areas of eastern Ukraine, which will give him a largely token benefit.. The continuation of successful Ukrainian counter-offensives in Kherson indicates that the Ukrainian command is recognizing these realities and is exploiting the vulnerabilities that created Putin’s decision,” analysts say..

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The ISW believes that the Russians managed to enter Severodonetsk and occupy part of the city only because the Armed Forces of Ukraine are gradually withdrawing from there. And they call it the right decision, because they believe that Ukraine should use its more limited resources and focus on the restoration of critical terrain, and not on the defense of territory, the control of which will not determine the outcome of the war or the conditions for the restoration of the war..

Experts also noted that the competent prioritization of counter-offensive and defensive operations drove the Russians almost beyond the artillery reach of Kharkov and stopped the advance from Izyum - both of these areas are more important than the defense of Severodonetsk.

“The leadership of Ukraine had to make an incredibly difficult choice in this war and made the right one overall, at least at the level of strategic priorities, as well as in the pace, scale and ambition of their counter-offensives.. Therefore, Ukraine still has a good chance to stop, and then return back the achievements that Russia is now achieving, ”the institute emphasizes..

Russian troops are increasingly focused on advancing to Slavyansk from the southeast of Izyum and west of the Liman.

They are doing well in and around Severodonetsk and are probably hoping to advance on Lisichansk from Toshkovka to avoid fighting over the Seversky Donets from Severodonetsk..

The Russian force in Kherson Oblast is under pressure from a limited Ukrainian counter-offensive in the northwest of Kherson Oblast, especially given that much of Russia’s operational focus is now on the capture of Severodonetsk.

Recall, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Russian troops are preparing to resume the offensive in the directions of Slavyanskaya and Izyum.