The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation significantly increased the number of terrestrial attacks because Ukraine is waiting for weapons from the West - ISW

According to analysts, Russian troops will maintain high intensity of attacks in eastern Ukraine to achieve maximum effect and likely tactical advantages. Over the last month, Russian occupation troops have increased significantly the number of ground attacks in eastern Ukraine, as they want to consolidate their success before the Armed Forces of Ukraine receive Western military assistance. This is stated in the report of the American Institute of War Study (ISW) of May 8, 2024.

"Russian troops will maintain high intensity of attacks in eastern Ukraine in order to succeed before arriving in Western aid to Ukraine, which will probably limit the ability of Russian troops to maintain the high intensity of attacks and the tactical benefits they can now reach," the report said.

As evidence of the ISW analyst, the statement of the spokesman for the Ukrainian group "Khortytsia" Nazar Voloshin, who reported on May 9, that the number of combat clashes increased significantly: from May 84 to 146 collisions on May 9. Voloshin noted that the majority of hostilities took place in the area of ​​responsibility of the Khortytsia group (territory from Kharkiv region to the border zone of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya regions).

Voloshin suggested that the current activation of Russian attacks is a consequence of the fact that after the spring season, the muddy earth has dried, which allows to carry out fast mechanized maneuvers. The Khortytsia spokesman also stated that the Russian forces were trying to take advantage of Ukraine's relative weakness while it is waiting for the arrival of Western assistance.

In addition, the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom reported about the growth of Russian attacks by 17% from March and April 2024. The department said that the number of Russian attacks near the time ravine increased by 200%during the same period. We will remind, on May 9 the head of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration Vadim Filashkin stated that the occupation of Donbass will open the way to the Russians in the central regions.