Abroad Today, 13:01 Putin’s goal of conquering part of Ukraine by the end of March has not been achieved

The Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Army, the commander of the Ukrainian operation, General Valery Gerasimov, announced on December 22 that the Russian troops will focus on capturing the Donetsk region.

At the beginning of February, the Russian army began a winter offensive on the line Kupyanska-Svatov-Kreminna-Limana.

However, Russia’s winter offensive has not been able to achieve the Kremlin’s goals of occupying all the territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions within their administrative borders by March 31.

ISW has long reported that the Russian winter offensive was unlikely to succeed due to the persistent failures of the Russian command.

ISW also concluded that Russia would lack the combat power needed to mount more than one major offensive operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and recruitment campaigns in Russia and the occupied territories of Ukraine very likely indicate that Russia is preparing for a shortage of reserves.

ISW also admits that

growing Russian speculation about a change in Russian military command is likely to suggest that Russia may soon reshuffle its military high command in the wake of the failed winter offensive.