Latest S2 Update on Ukraine

[putnam6]

Ive been following here sounds like we are gonna be here for the long haul.

https://www.understandingwar.org/backgro...t-march-20


Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 20

Mason Clark, George Barros, and Kateryna Stepanenko

March 20, 4:00pm ET 

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 20

Mason Clark, George Barros, and Kateryna Stepanenko

March 20, 4:00pm ET 

Russian forces did not make any major advances on March 20. Russian forces around Kyiv are increasingly establishing defensive positions and preparing to deploy further artillery and fire control assets. Ukrainian forces repelled continuing Russian efforts to seize the city of Izyum, southeast of Kharkiv, and Russian forces did not conduct any other offensive operations in northeast Ukraine. Russian forces continue to make slow but steady progress on Luhansk Oblast and around Mariupol, but did not conduct any offensive operations towards Mykolayiv or Kryvyi Rih.

Key Takeaways

• The Ukrainian General Staff reported for the first time that the Kremlin is preparing its population for a “long war” in Ukraine and implementing increasingly draconian mobilization measures, including deploying youth military organization members aged 17-18.
  
  
• Ukrainian forces reportedly killed three Russian regimental commanders in the last 24 hours.
  
  
• Russia’s Wagner Group will likely facilitate the deployment of Libyan fighters to Ukraine.
  
  
• Russian forces are digging in to positions around Kyiv, including the first reports of the war of Russian forces deploying minefields.
  
  
• Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian assault on Izyum, southeast of Kharkiv, and inflicted heavy casualties.
  
  
• Russian forces continued their slow advance into Mariupol but did not achieve any major territorial gains.
  
  
• Ukrainian forces launched further localized counterattacks around Mykolayiv.