Russian troops are revising their approaches to combat operations in the Kharkiv direction, using smaller assault groups and more flexible attack methods. This change in tactics is related to issues with staffing and insufficient coordination among units, forcing command to seek new ways to advance.
This is reported by Finway
Changes in combat operations in eastern Ukraine
According to analysts, a significant portion of the losses of the Russian army falls on recruits who are sent into battle in small groups, often without proper coordination. In the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces continue “intensive offensive actions,” trying to break through the defenses of Ukrainian troops and expand their control zone. This region remains one of the main areas for the Russian offensive in the east of the country.
“Significant Russian gains on the front, let alone a complete victory, are not inevitable.”
Overall strategy and Ukraine’s responses
The overall strategy of the Russian Federation is to exhaust Ukrainian forces both at the front and in the rear, particularly through strikes on infrastructure. This is happening ahead of a possible spring-summer offensive in 2026. At the same time, Ukrainian forces are demonstrating an increase in the range of their strikes on Russian territory — attacks by drones have been recorded on cities located over 1700 kilometers from the border, such as Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk. This indicates an expansion of Ukraine’s capabilities to strike deep into the enemy’s rear.
On April 15, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, reported the intensification of offensive actions by the Russian army along almost the entire front line, which stretches for 1200 kilometers. According to him, in March, the most intense areas remained the Oleksandrivskyi, Pokrovskyi, Kostiantynivskyi, and Lyman directions.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on April 23 that the situation at the front remains complex, but the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have become more stable compared to previous months and years. He also emphasized that Russia continues to prepare for air attacks against Ukraine.