"Statements made by Ukrainian military officials on the pace and prospects of current Russian offensive operations may suggest that the overall Russian spring offensive may be nearing culmination," the ISW said in its latest analysis of the war in Ukraine.
A spokesman for the Ukrainian Eastern Group of Forces, Col. Serhiy Cherevaty, said on Sunday that Russia was unable to gather sufficient forces for its anticipated major offensive in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region, according to the ISW.
Cherevaty emphasized that "Russian forces cannot even complete the tactical capture" of Ukraine's eastern city of Bakhmut, the Washington-based think tank reported.
It said Cherevaty's statements were consistent with its own assessment "that the Wagner Group offensive" near Bakhmut "is likely nearing culmination."
The ISW also said that Russian forces were "struggling to secure operationally significant gains elsewhere along the frontline, particularly in the Avdiivka-Donetsk City and Vuhledar areas."
Another spokesman for the Ukrainian forces, Col. Oleksiy Dmytrashkivskyi, said on Sunday that "Russian forces have been desperately attacking Avdiivka to restart offensive operations on Vuhledar," according to the ISW.
Dmytrashkivskyi stated that "this renewed offensive focus on Avdiivka has recently led to major Russian losses around Avdiivka amounting to the equivalent of one company," the ISW reported.
The ISW has previously observed that Russia's military campaign in eastern Ukraine appears to have slowed, with Ukrainian forces launching successful counterattacks to regain territory.
The think tank reported earlier this month that Russia’s Wagner group of mercenaries had appeared to have begun a tactical pause in the fierce, months-long battle for Bakhmut.
Monday is day 390 of Russia’s war in Ukraine.
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Source: IAR, PAP, understandingwar.org, ukrinform.net