"More chances of significant promotion": where the Armed Forces will start creating a buffer - isw

To spread: Russian President Vladimir Putin demands from his army to create a "buffer zone" in the territory of Ukraine. This forced the enemy troops to change priorities and throw resources. This is stated in the construction of the American Institute for War Study (ISW) for May 26.

Military observer Konstantin Mashovets informed that Moscow had transferred to strengthen the offensive in the north of Sumy region part of its 752 Motorized Rifle Regiment and units of the 200th Motorized Rifle Brigade. From the middle of 2024 the elements of the mentioned regiment have been fought in the Boriv and Liman directions, and the 200th brigade-from the middle of 2023 participated in the battles on the priority for the Russian Federation the direction of Bakhmut-time ravine.

"Isw earlier noted that the inability of Russian troops to break through Ukrainian defense to the west and southwest of the ravine has undermined Russia's ability to prepare for large offensive operations against Konstantinovka and a wider belt of Ukrainian fortifications. Analysts. This confirms their assessment that the Russian Federation does not have enough operational reserves to strengthen the offensive at the same time in several directions.

"The decision of the Russian military command relocates units in this direction indicates that the Russian military can try to continue the offensive in the Donetsk region at the same time and create a buffer zone in the north of Chernihiv, Sumy and Kharkiv regions. The Russian military command can estimate that Russian troops have a significant chance.

It is noted that during a meeting with officials, Putin discussed the idea of ​​creating at least a 25-kilometer buffer in northern Sumy region. Last year, he had already ordered the creation of such a zone in the north of the Kharkiv region. Analysts suggest that "buffer zones" need the Kremlin to justify the expansion of claims in Ukrainian territories.

Also in ISW ​​agree with the assessment of Ukrainian intelligence that Russia remains committed to Ukraine's capitulation and is preparing for a potential future conflict with NATO. It is reported that the Kremlin has recently resumed narrative on the illegality of the collapse of the USSR, probably creating conditions for the refusal of independence and sovereignty of the former Soviet states.