Russia Launches Spring-Summer Offensive in Ukraine: ISW Report

Russian forces have intensified offensive actions along the eastern front, launching 619 assault operations in the four days from March 17 to 20, 2026, according to Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Syrskyi reported via social media that the renewed attacks employ a tactic described as “meat assaults” – large-scale, wave-based offensives prioritizing troop numbers over tactical sophistication. “The Russian military command threw tens of thousands of soldiers into the meat assaults, but the price of this offensive turned out to be catastrophic for the aggressor,” Syrskyi stated. He reported over 6,090 Russian soldiers killed or wounded during the four-day period, bringing total enemy losses for the week to approximately 8,710.

The increased Russian activity aligns with assessments from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), which suggests the commencement of a Russian spring-summer offensive. The ISW analysis indicates the primary objective is a 50-kilometer stretch of fortified Ukrainian defenses, known as the “fortress belt,” extending from Sloviansk through Kramatorsk to Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. This defensive line represents a critical component of Ukraine’s eastern defenses.

According to the ISW, while a complete breakthrough of the fortress belt in 2026 is considered unlikely, Russian forces are expected to achieve some tactical gains at a substantial cost in personnel and equipment.

Oleksandr Syrskyi assumed the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on February 8, 2024, replacing Valerii Zaluzhnyi. Prior to this appointment, he served as the commander of the Ukrainian Ground Forces from August 5, 2019, to February 11, 2024, and previously held the role of commander of the Joint Forces Operation from May to August 2019. Syrskyi’s military career began in 1986, and he has risen through the ranks, holding various command positions within the Soviet and subsequently Ukrainian armed forces.

The Ukrainian military continues to engage in fierce fighting across the entire front line, attempting to repel the Russian advances.