The Russian occupation troops have made some progress in eastern Ukraine in recent days, although in general the Ukrainian defense remains effective and the Russian advance is very slow.. This assessment of the situation at the front in Ukraine as of May 26 was given by the American Institute for the Study of War ISW.

“Over the past few days, the Russian armed forces have made steady progress in the fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, although Ukrainian defense has generally remained effective,” ISW analysts say.. – Russian troops have done well over the past week, but their offensive operations remain slow. Russian forces are greatly degraded and will try to compensate for further losses.”.

Russian troops unsuccessfully tried to advance southeast of Izyum near the border of the Kharkov and Donetsk regions.

They continued to constantly advance around Severodonetsk and, probably, set themselves the goal of completely encircling the Severodonetsk-Lysichansk area in the coming days..

Also, Russian troops continued to push hard south and west from Popasnaya to Bakhmut, but according to ISW, the pace of the Russian advance is likely to slow down as they approach the city itself..

It is also reported that Russian troops in the occupied areas of the southern axis are preparing a third line of defense in order to consolidate long-term control over the region and prepare to repel possible future counter-offensives of the Ukrainian army..

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Recall that Russian troops are trying to break through the Ukrainian defenses near the city of Severodonetsk, Luhansk region. Heavy fighting is now taking place in its vicinity.. According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, the current offensive of infidels in Donbass could make this region deserted.