ISW report

Russia intensifies strikes on Ukraine’s digital infrastructure — ISW

Russian forces have intensified strikes on Ukrainian data centers and telecommunications infrastructure since mid-September as the Kremlin searches for “alternative defeat mechanisms” amid battlefield setbacks, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Sept. 25 assessment.

26 September, 11:25 AM

ISW map refutes Russian Defense Ministry claims of encircling Dobropillya

Russian claims regarding the encirclement of Dobropillya in Donetsk Oblast are false, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Sept. 24.

25 September, 11:55 AM

Putin unlikely to stop even if Russia takes all of Donetsk — ISW

The visits by U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Moscow and Kyiv have underscored that Russian President Vladimir Putin is unwilling to make meaningful compromises to end Russia’s war against Ukraine and that his actual demands extend far beyond seizing all of Donetsk Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War said in its Sept. 6 assessment.

7 September, 10:25 AM

ISW maps show Russian offensive has sharply slowed

The Institute for the Study of War has challenged a series of claims by Russian President Vladimir Putin about battlefield developments in Ukraine, saying he significantly exaggerated Russian advances and falsely portrayed a Russian victory as inevitable.

3 September, 05:28 PM

Russian forces capture less land than Ukraine liberates in August — ISW

Russian forces failed to trigger an operational collapse or restore battlefield maneuver in August 2026, capturing less territory than Ukraine liberated, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Sept. 1.

2 September, 12:02 PM

Russia unable to mount rapid breakthrough even if Kostyantynivka falls — ISW

Russian forces will not be able to achieve a rapid breakthrough through Ukraine’s defense or seize the remainder of Donetsk Oblast even if they secure full control over Kostyantynivka, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Aug. 26.

27 August, 10:35 AM

Russia makes little progress after months of spring-summer attacks

Russian forces continue to advance at a slow pace in Ukraine more than two months after launching their spring-summer offensive, which has yet to produce any significant results, the Institute for the Study of War said in its Aug. 1 report.

2 August, 09:52 AM

Russian Navy forms drone units to counter Ukrainian strikes — ISW

The Russian Navy is establishing unmanned systems regiments partly to protect its vessels from intensified Ukrainian strikes across Black Sea and Azov naval theaters, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on July 27.

27 July, 09:50 AM

Russian southern supply routes crumbling as Ukraine intensifies strikes on Kerch logistics

Ukraine’s armed forces are carrying out strikes on the Kerch Strait to disrupt Russian logistics and fuel transports in occupied Crimea, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on June 21.

22 June, 01:28 PM

Russia may use drone incidents to justify future attacks on NATO states

Russia is using recent drone-related incidents near NATO borders to deflect responsibility for future attacks and potentially create a pretext for false-flag operations against alliance members, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a report published on June 8.

9 June, 04:01 PM

Russian forces may be abandoning positions on Kinburn Spit

Russian forces may be abandoning positions in the northern and western parts of the Kinburn Spit after Ukrainian strikes severely disrupted their supply lines, according to the latest assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published on June 8.

9 June, 10:30 AM

Large-scale attack on Kyiv seen as Putin’s attempt to erase May 9 parade humiliation

The large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv on May 24 is part of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s attempt to erase the humiliation caused by the May 9 parade in Moscow, Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on May 24.

25 May, 11:20 AM

Large-scale attack on Kyiv after 'ceasefire' exposes Russia as bad-faith negotiator

The large-scale Russian attack on Kyiv on May 14 did not technically breach the May 9-11 ceasefire, but it exposed Russia as a bad-faith negotiator, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on May 14.

15 May, 09:25 AM

Mutual accusations fly as temporary ceasefire falters in eastern Ukraine

A ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia without clear enforcement mechanisms, reliable monitoring, and defined dispute resolution procedures is unlikely to be durable, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on May 10.

11 May, 11:15 AM

Ukraine advances near key Donetsk cities as Russia escalates infantry attacks

Ukrainian defense forces have advanced in the Slovyansk and Kostiantynivka sectors of Donetsk Oblast, the Institute for the Study of War reported on April 30.

1 May, 11:05 AM

Russia aims far beyond Donbas in its war against Ukraine

A Russian proxy leader Denis Pushilin's call for a Dnipropetrovsk Oblast "buffer zone" contradicts Moscow's assurances that capturing Donetsk Oblast is its sole remaining territorial goal, the ISW wrote on April 27.

28 April, 12:02 PM

Ukraine ramps up long-range strikes, overwhelming Russian air defense — ISW

Ukraine’s long-range strike campaign continues to exploit overstretched Russian air defenses, damaging oil infrastructure and military assets in Russia and occupied Crimea, the Institute for the Study of War wrote on April 26.

27 April, 11:25 AM

Russian Z-channels slam officials after Ukraine strikes Krasnodar

Russia is struggling to protect infrastructure from regular Ukrainian strikes, which has already sparked waves of criticism following drone attacks on the Tuapse oil depot and other targets, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on April 20.

21 April, 11:05 AM

Russia using new devastating strike strategy — ISW

Russia uses a new strike tactic in mass attacks on Ukraine, including the April 16 barrage, thus, threatening more oblasts over longer periods and inflict disproportionate harm on civilians, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on April 16.

17 April, 11:29 AM

Russian oil strikes expose air defense strain as war bloggers warn of missile shortages — ISW

Ukraine is expanding its long-range strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure as Russian war bloggers complain their own air defenses are ineffective and unable to limit the damage from those attacks, the Institute for the Study of War said in a report on April 6.

7 April, 10:49 AM

ISW report

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