ISW report

Russia shows no readiness for concessions and is laying groundwork to reject U.S. 28 point plan — ISW

Russia continues to signal that its conditions for ending the war in Ukraine remain unchanged and that it is not prepared to make the concessions outlined in the U.S. peace plan, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a Nov. 21 assessment.

22 November 2025, 12:45 PM

ISW: Russia exploits poor weather to probe for gaps in Ukrainian defenses near Novopavlivka

Russian forces exploited poor weather to probe Ukrainian defenses near Novopavlivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, a geolocated video published on Nov. 14 shows. The footage captures Ukrainian troops targeting Russian armored vehicles northeast of the village. A day later, the Institute for the Study of War cited a Russian military blogger who claimed troops had reached the town’s northwestern edge during a mechanized assault.

16 November 2025, 02:56 PM

‘The situation is serious’: Russia seeks to encircle Huliaipole and cut it off from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast — ISW

Russian forces continue pushing forward and intensifying offensive operations toward Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhya Oblast and Velykomykhailivka in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, according to a Nov. 13 report by the Institute for the Study of War.

14 November 2025, 04:58 PM

Russia may form a 'sub-pocket' in Pokrovsk to squeeze Ukrainian supply routes

The situation in Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast remains difficult, as Ukrainian defenders work to hold the flanks of the pocket while Russian forces continue to advance, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Nov. 10.

11 November 2025, 11:44 AM

Russian forces digging in around Pokrovsk, adapting tactics to weather — ISW

Russian troops are increasing their presence and stepping up attacks around Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast in a push to consolidate gains in the city, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in a Nov. 6 update.

7 November 2025, 10:26 AM

Russia ramps up strikes to sever rail to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk

Russia targets Ukraine’s rear rail hubs to cut supply lines to Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, and pressure front-line defenses, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Nov. 6.

7 November 2025, 09:42 AM

Moscow clears legal path to send reservists to front

The Kremlin is continuing to prepare conditions to send reservists to the front in Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on Nov. 5.

6 November 2025, 11:20 AM

Ukraine halts Russian encirclement effort near Pokrovsk

Ukrainian counterattacks on the Dobropillia axis are disrupting Russian attempts to encircle Pokrovsk, even as Moscow’s forces push into some districts in the town, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Nov. 3.

4 November 2025, 10:16 AM

Russia risks other frontline sectors to take Pokrovsk - ISW

Russian forces are shifting effort to seize Pokrovsk, scaling back attacks on Kostyantynivka and Druzhkivka — but the drive is costly for the enemy army, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Nov. 2.

3 November 2025, 10:10 AM

Ukrainian forces push north in Pokrovsk as Russia fights for foothold — ISW

Ukrainian Defense Forces have made limited gains on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast as part of a counteroffensive, while Russian troops continue attempts to penetrate the city and the eastern part of nearby Myrnohrad, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 31 assessment.

1 November 2025, 01:39 PM

Putin’s ‘micro-ceasefire’ bid seen as ploy to frame Ukraine as peace blocker — ISW

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin’s performative proposal for a brief “micro-ceasefire” near Pokrovsk and Kupyansk is likely aimed at creating the impression that Moscow is not an obstacle to peace, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 29 report.

30 October 2025, 12:38 PM

Russians seep into south and west of Pokrovsk - ISW

The frontline around Pokrovsk remains highly fluid, and both Ukrainian and Russian forces continue pushing toward the city, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Oct. 27.

28 October 2025, 10:03 AM

ISW: Kremlin sends Dmitriev to U.S. to push propaganda as war pressure builds

The Kremlin is attempting to use the visit of Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), to the United States to push its narratives in the American information space, according to an Oct. 25 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

26 October 2025, 11:15 AM

‘Isolated but entrenched’: Russian forces gain ground in Pokrovsk, but don’t fully control the city — ISW

Russian troops have advanced into central and western Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast and are holding positions along the railway line, but the exact shape of the frontline in the city and its outskirts remains unclear, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 24 update.

25 October 2025, 11:03 AM

Major shift in Kremlin rhetoric: What Putin’s and Medvedev’s first direct attacks on Trump reveal after new U.S. sanctions — ISW

In response to U.S. sanctions against Lukoil and Rosneft, the Kremlin — which had previously avoided direct public criticism of U.S. President Donald Trump — has changed its tone, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote in their Oct. 23 report.

24 October 2025, 10:53 AM

Russian troops stage flag displays to fake numerical advantage on Lyman front — ISW

The Russian military command is ordering troops to raise flags on Lyman front to create the appearance of a numerical advantage over Ukraine’s Defense Forces, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Oct. 22.

23 October 2025, 09:35 AM

Ceding Donbas to Russia would bolster its offensive position — ISW analysis

Russia’s demand for full control of the Donbas would give Moscow a stronger foothold for renewed aggression against Ukraine whenever it sees fit, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned in their Oct. 19 assessment.

20 October 2025, 10:26 AM

ISW: Ukrainian drone attacks knock out a fifth of Russia’s oil refining capacity

Ukraine’s sustained campaign of strikes on Russian oil refineries is worsening the country’s fuel shortages and triggering record price spikes, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 18 report.

19 October 2025, 10:58 AM

Tomahawks for Ukraine wouldn’t escalate war, could weaken Russia, ISW says

Supplying U.S. long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine would not cause a major escalation in the war but would instead mirror Russia’s own use of long-range cruise missiles, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Oct. 17 report.

18 October 2025, 01:15 PM

Kremlin lies about energy strikes after Trump–Putin call

Following the phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, Moscow sought to distort the truth about its deliberate attacks on Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Oct. 16.

17 October 2025, 12:53 PM

ISW report

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