Russian troops prepare for the Battle for Severodonetsk in upcoming days — ISW

Russian troops may begin a ground battle for Severodonetsk in Luhansk Oblast in the upcoming days, says the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Analysts say Russia prioritized advances east and west of Popasna to cut Ukrainian ground lines of communication southwest of Severodonetsk and complete encirclement efforts in Luhansk Oblast.

Russian troops may start the Battle of Severodonetsk in the upcoming days even before completely cutting off Ukrainian ground lines of communication. Analysts believe that the Russian forces want to attack Severodonetsk to maintain their pace. Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the enemy was trying to entrench in the city area.

The ISW notes that Russian forces have likely entered Lyman and may use the city as a foothold to coordinate with advances southeast of Izium to launch an offensive on Siversk. The General Staff says the occupiers are trying to improve their tactical position near Izium and resume the attack on Sloviansk and have focused on Lyman's complete capture.

Situation in Luhansk Oblast

On May 24, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said that the situation in Donbas is extremely difficult: Russia has thrown all the remaining forces into the offensive to attack Lyman, Popasna, Severodonetsk, and Sloviansk.

Serhiy Haidai, Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration, said that the Russians amassed 25 battalion tactical groups (500 personnel each) and many pieces of equipment. The official says that now the situation in the region is the most difficult for 8 years of war: Russia is conducting an offensive in all directions simultaneously.

On May 24, Haidai also reported that the Russians had already occupied 95% of Luhansk Oblast. More than 40,000 people now live on the territory of Luhansk Oblast, controlled by Ukraine, and 99% of the residents do not want to leave.

The ISW notes that Russia likely had to withdraw these forces from Zaporizhia, Donetsk, and Kharkiv Oblasts to intensify the offensive on Severodonetsk.