ISW report

Russia expands year-round conscription, moves to call up more reservists — ISW analysis

Russia is stepping up forced mobilization of reservists to make up for its disproportionately high losses in Ukraine relative to territorial gains, according to a Dec. 30 report from the Institute for the Study of War.

31 December 2025, 11:29 AM

Valdai ‘strike’ exists only in Kremlin statements — ISW

There is no evidence to support Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine carried out a strike on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin residence in Valdai, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Dec. 29.

30 December 2025, 12:35 PM

ISW: Russia must drop demands that clash with U.S.–Ukraine peace plan

The Kremlin will have to compromise on demands that contradict the 20-point peace plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Dec. 24 report.

25 December 2025, 05:00 PM

Russia captures Siversk after months of assault

Russian forces have likely captured Siversk in Donetsk Oblast, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Ukrainian military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets, reported on Dec. 21.

22 December 2025, 11:10 AM

Ukrainian gains near Kupyansk debunk Kremlin narrative of ‘inevitable victory’ — ISW

Ukrainian advances in and around Kupyansk in Kharkiv Oblast demonstrate that Ukraine’s Armed Forces remain capable of mounting successful counterattacks and achieving tactically significant gains, especially when Russian forces are overstretched, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in its Dec. 12 assessment.

13 December 2025, 10:48 AM

Moscow declares Siversk captured to sell its 'sweeping advances' narrative

Russia’s claim to have captured Siversk isn’t backed by evidence and is part of a wider Kremlin effort to sell the illusion of a collapsing Ukrainian front, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Dec. 11.

12 December 2025, 12:39 PM

ISW: Kremlin rejects security guarantees, free elections, and Ukraine’s energy truce plan

Russia continues to signal it has no interest in easing attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, agreeing to peace terms that include real security guarantees, or allowing free elections unless it can ensure a pro-Russian outcome, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in their Dec. 10 report.

11 December 2025, 10:32 AM

ISW: Putin doubles down on 2022 invasion goals, rejects U.S. peace proposal

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his commitment to the original goals of his 2021–2022 invasion of Ukraine and showed no interest in compromise during a recent interview with Indian media, according to a new assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) published on Dec. 4.

5 December 2025, 11:44 AM

Russia pushes false narrative of looming attack on Chernihiv — ISW

Russia has likely launched a new cognitive warfare campaign by spreading information about an alleged offensive on the city of Chernihiv, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) wrote on Dec. 4.

5 December 2025, 10:08 AM

ISW: Kremlin fakes Ukraine defeat to push West into peace on Russia’s terms

Russian state-run propaganda outlets are spreading false claims of an imminent collapse along Ukraine’s front line, citing recent remarks by Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, according to the Institute for the Study of War’s latest report, published on Nov. 29.

30 November 2025, 01:00 PM

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

ISW report

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