by the Institute for the Study of War, who are excellent, and this is a really good piece of research,

using a lot of satellite data. They have logged where the Russians are digging in on the east side of the Nipra River.

And so the Kersen City is here, the Ukrainians took Kersen City City and all of these triangles represent fixed fortifications

which the Russians have built. All the seas represent concentrations of troops and a bit in a barracks there, for instance, another barracks here.

What it shows us is that the Russians are really fortifying their side of the river opposite Kersen City, but here this is Novokovka.

The Russians really seem to expect the Ukrainians to try to cross the Nipri River, probably

around Novokovka.

The other thing that's interesting is that you see how much, how they fortified all of their lines

of communication.

Ukraine is well positioned to regain the initiative and launch counter-offensives in critical

sectors of the current front lines as the Institute for the Study of War, adding that ongoing

Russian offensive along the Swathevāk criminal line around Bahmoud and along the Avdivka-Donetsk

city and Bouglidar frontlines have failed to make more than incremental tactical gains in

2023.

Ukrainian forces likely conducted a localized counter-attack southwest of Bahmot amid

growing Russian discussion about a potential Ukrainian counteroffensives in this area.

An influential American think tank has announced it believes Ukraine's long-awaited counter-offensive has begun. In a long thread on Twitter, the Institute for the Study of War said on Thursday that it had seen activity throughout Ukraine and indicators suggesting operations were

underway across the country.

The ISW points out that Ukraine will not formally announce its counter-of-facifacef has started,

while Russia and its bloggers will have no qualms about making claims its repelling assaults,

as it did on Monday.

Pictures are purporting to show Ukrainian

...