ISW: Russia may reprioritize advances in east to draw attention from Ukraine’s counteroffensive in south.

Russian troops may reprioritize advances in the northeast of Donetsk region to divert the attention of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from counteroffensive actions in the south of the country.

“Russian forces may be reprioritizing advances in northeastern Donetsk Oblast in order to draw attention from Ukrainian counteroffensive actions in Southern Ukraine,” reads the report of the US Institute for the Study of War.

As noted, Russian forces had seemingly scaled back offensive actions east of Siversk and conducted sporadic and limited ground attacks while relying heavily on artillery barrages of surrounding settlements since August 6. However, since August 11, Russian forces have increased the number of limited ground attacks in the Siversk area.

“These attacks, along with continued assaults in the direction of Bakhmut, may constitute an effort to draw Ukrainian materiel and personnel to the Bakhmut-Siversk line in northeastern Donetsk Oblast in order to detract Ukraine’s attention from critical areas in the South, where Ukrainian troops have been conducting effective counterattacks and may be setting conditions to launch a counteroffensive,” the report says.

The experts believe that Russian forces may hope “to shift both tactical and rhetorical focus away from the south” in order to alleviate pressure on their own operations along the Southern Axis.

As President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said in his video address to Ukrainian citizens, Avdiivka, Marinka, Pisky, and Bakhmut remain the hottest spots in Donetsk region.

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