The Russians have erected a defense line between the Oskil River and Svatove, a small town in the Luhansk region, the Defense Ministry said. Ukraine would continue with the counter-offensive in the east of the country, but Russia will also try to regain ground from the Ukrainians. One of Russia’s few supply lines runs through this region, leaving Russia determined to maintain control of the region.
“Any substantial loss of territory in Luhansk will unequivocally undermine Russia’s strategy,” the ministry stressed. “Russia will probably try to doggedly defend this area, but it is unclear whether Russian front-line troops have sufficient reserves or morale to withstand another coordinated Ukrainian attack,” it said.