Russian forces continue to struggle to seize ground in Ukraine, according to the latest analysis from the Institute for the Study of War think tank .
Invading troops “face mounting difficulties replacing combat losses,” the report says, noting the reported death of a fourth Russian general.
Reserve troops from Armenia and South Ossetia – a territory Russia seized from Georgia in 2008 – are being redeployed to the region, according to the report’s authors.
The reinforcement troops, “will likely face equal or greater command and logistics difficulties to current frontline Russian units”.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces were able to repel several Russian attacks on northwest Kyiv on Wednesday. No attacks were made on the northeast outskirts of the city.
The pocket of resistance in the port city Mariupol continued to shrink, however.
Shelling of civilians continues there and in Kharkiv, in the northwest. The city is unlikely to surrender unless Russia surrounds it, which so far they seem “unable to achieve”.
Russian warships also shelled the Odesa region, although the report says the Russian Naval Infantry is unlikely to attempt an amphibious assault without more military support.
