Estimates of Russian military capabilities along the frontline in Zaporizhia region indicate that Ukraine has counteroffensive capabilities in this strategically important region, according to a February 27 report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Western officials and news outlets have recently expressed a degree of doubt about Ukrainian forces' ability to conduct a counteroffensive and the West's ability to provide long-term military aid to Ukraine. Ukrainian military officials report preparations for a spring counteroffensive in the country's south," the ISW said in the report.

In particular, this was stated by Deputy Head of the Main Intelligence Agency of Ukraine Vadym Skibitsky, noting that one of the strategic goals of Ukraine is the division of the Russian frontline into the Crimean and mainland. He also said the supply of Western military aid is one of the decisive factors in determining the timing of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Analysts report on the new tactics of the occupiers, who have begun using the so-called. battalion-sized "storm troops" optimized for frontal attacks on fortified areas. "The manual suggests that Russian forces are trying to adapt maneuver forces into smaller and more agile military formations than were employed earlier in the war... The increased reliance on dismounted infantry and the relegation of tanks to fire support from the rear indicates that Russian military leadership is prioritizing protecting main battle tanks over protecting infantry, which is reflective of recent reports of massive equipment losses that Russian armor units sustained over the first year of the war," according to the report.

The assault squad's tactics also indicate that the Russian military may be trying to use the methods of the private military company Wagner.

"Assault detachments may be able to make tactical gains at cost due to their simplicity but will likely culminate rapidly due to their small size and attritional tactics. Russian forces are unlikely to make operationally significant breakthroughs rapidly with this formation," ISW said.

According to the report Russian forces are concentrating and intensifying military operations along the frontline in Luhansk region, and also continued to deliver ground strikes northwest of Svatove and in Kreminna area. Also on Monday, the occupiers continued to carry out ground strikes across the front line in Donetsk region; Russian sources claimed that PMC Wagner forces had recaptured the territory north of Bakhmut.

"Ukrainian officials reported that Russian forces continue to focus on establishing defensive fortifications in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast and Crimea. Russian forces are continuing to expend their already limited stocks of precision munitions," ISW said.