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June 15, 2022

Institute for the Study of War: Russian forces launch ground assault in Sievierodonetsk

Institute for the Study of War

Western officials announced additional military aid for Ukraine on June 15. US President Joe Biden pledged $1 billion worth of military aid, including coastal defense weapons, advanced rocket systems, artillery, and ammunition to support Ukrainian operations.[1] NATO members additionally announced they will additionally continue to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons and long-range systems and plan to agree on a new assistance package after consultations with Ukraine’s Defense Ministry.[2] This newest round of military aid will be invaluable to support Ukrainian operations, especially in the face of increasingly protracted and artillery-heavy fighting against Russian forces in Eastern Ukraine, though Ukraine will require further sustained support.

Key Takeaways

  • Russian forces launched ground assaults in Severodonetsk and settlements in its vicinity but have not taken full control over the city as of June 15.
  • Russian forces launched largely unsuccessful offensive operations around the T1302 Bakhmut-Lysychansk highway in an effort to cut Ukrainian ground lines of communication (GLOCs) to Lysychansk.
  • Russian forces continued efforts to advance along the E40 highway to Slovyansk and southeast of Izyum.
  • Russian and Ukrainian forces continued to fight in northeastern settlements around Kharkiv City.
  • Russian forces continued to fortify fallback positions in Zaporizhia and Kherson Oblasts, while undertaking defensive measures to strengthen Russian presence in the Black Sea.
  • The Kremlin and proxy republics continue to pursue ad hoc annexation policies in occupied territories.

Full report:   https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-june-15

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