The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank reported that "the overall pace of Russian operations in Ukraine appears to have decreased compared to previous weeks."
A spokesman for the Ukrainian forces, Col. Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, said on March 15 that "Russian offensive actions have decreased significantly over the last week" and added that "daily Russian ground attacks have decreased from 90 to 100 attacks per day to 20 to 29 per day," according to the ISW.
The Washington-based think tank said Dmytrashkivskyi’s statements were consistent with its own "general observation regarding the pace of Russian operations along the entire frontline in Ukraine."
Ukraine counterattacks to regain territory in Luhansk region
The ISW also said that "the Russian offensive operation in Luhansk Oblast is likely nearing culmination, if it has not already culminated, although Russia has committed most elements of at least three divisions to the Svatove-Kreminna line."
Russian forces have made "only minimal tactical gains along the entire Luhansk Oblast frontline over the last week, and Ukrainian forces have likely recently managed to conduct counterattacks and regain territory in Luhansk Oblast," the ISW reported.
'A markedly decreased number of attacks in and around Bakhmut'
Additionally, it said "the overall Wagner Group offensive" on Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut appeared to be "nearing culmination."
It added that Ukrainian military sources "have noted a markedly decreased number of attacks in and around Bakhmut, particularly over the last few days."
The ISW reported last week that Russia’s Wagner group of mercenaries appeared to have begun a tactical pause in the fierce, months-long battle for Bakhmut.
Thursday is day 386 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, understandingwar.org