Thread by @TheStudyofWar

Eastern #Ukraine Update:

#Russian troops reportedly conducted ground assaults towards #Lyman, #Bakhmut, #Kurakhove, #Shandrygolove, and around #Donetsk City on May 16. These assaults, however, continued to be largely ineffective.
isw.pub/RusCampaignMay…

Additional highlights from Eastern Ukraine:

Russian forces continued offensive operations through Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, making limited gains.

The Head of the Luhansk Regional State Administration Serhiy Haidai stated that Russian forces in the area are focusing on securing territory from the direction of Bilohorivka, continuing attempts to seize Severodonetsk, and taking control of the highway to Lysychansk.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff noted that Russian forces did not conduct active ground operations in Severodonetsk and instead heavily shelled Ukrainian positions in the Rubizhne-Severodonetsk-Lysychansk area.

This is consistent with ISW's previous assessment that Russian troops are likely increasingly unable to commit to a full-scale encirclement of the area east of the Izyum-Slovyansk-Debaltseve highway and are opting for a shallower encirclement with artillery support.

Ukrainian forces in the area are reportedly destroying Russian communications routes and railway bridges between Rubizhne and Severodonetsk to disrupt further Russian offensives on Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.

Meanwhile, Russian forces did not make any confirmed advances in any direction from Izyum on May 16 and focused instead on regrouping in preparation of renewed offensives, likely toward Slovyansk.

Ukrainian forces are continuing to mount attacks against Russian positions in the Izyum area, and the Ukrainian General Staff claimed that Ukrainian troops destroyed a Russian ammunition depot in Izyum on May 16.

Such targeted Ukrainian attacks are likely putting continued pressure on Russian logistical capabilities around Izyum and contributing to the disruption of any planned Russian offensives in this area.