ISW-CTP is publishing an abbreviated campaign update today, March 5. This report analyzes the ongoing Battle for #Bakhmut and Russian prospects for further offensive efforts. #Russia #Ukraine️ criticalthreats.org/analysis/russi…
#Ukrainian forces are likely conducting a limited tactical withdrawal in Bakhmut, although it is still too early to assess Ukrainian intentions concerning a complete withdrawal from the city.
The Ukrainian defense of Bakhmut remains strategically sound as it continues to consume Russian manpower and equipment as long as Ukrainian forces do not suffer excessive casualties.
The Russian military’s attritional campaign to capture Bakhmut has likely prompted Russian #milbloggers to adopt more realistic expectations for further Russian operations in Ukraine.
The Russian offensive to capture Bakhmut will likely culminate whether Russian forces capture the city or not, and the Russian military will likely struggle to maintain any subsequent offensive operations for some months.
Endemic personnel and equipment constraints will likely prevent Russian forces from launching another prolonged offensive operation like the Battle for Bakhmut in the coming months.
The Russian Armed Forces will continue to rely on irregular formations in further offensive operations in the coming months.
Russian forces would have the choice of two diverging lines of advance after capturing Bakhmut but would likely struggle to sustain offensive operations and make any significant gains.
It is not clear if Russian forces intend to resume offensives near Vuhledar, and it is highly unlikely that Russian forces would advance far enough in this direction to support operations elsewhere in any case.
The likely imminent culmination of the Russian offensive around Bakhmut, the already culminated Russian offensive around Vuhledar, and the stalling Russian offensive in Luhansk Oblast are likely setting robust conditions for Ukrainian counteroffensive operations.

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More from @criticalthreats

Mar 7
NEW | The Battle of #Bakhmut may severely degrade the Wagner Group’s best forces, depriving #Russia of some of its most effective and most difficult-to-replace shock troops. Read the update from CTP and @TheStudyofWar : criticalthreats.org/analysis/russi… Image
#Russian forces continued to conduct ground attacks northwest of #Svatove and near #Kreminna. Image
#Russian forces secured territorial gains in #Bakhmut but have not yet encircled the city or forced #Ukrainian forces to withdraw. Image
Read 5 tweets
Mar 7
Over 110 separate student poisonings were reported throughout #Iran on March 6. Some have framed these incidents as “mass hysteria.” They’re not.  Someone is deliberately poisoning Iranian children—we’re just not sure who. (1)
#مسمومیت_دانش_آموزان Image
Hundreds of students—primarily #IranianSchoolgirls--reported chemical attacks in recent weeks, especially since March 1. Their symptoms include nausea, chest pain, numbness of limbs, and more. (2)

bbc.com/news/world-mid…
Some have compared these recent reports to previous instances of “mass sociogenic illnesses,” in which presenting symptoms are caused by anxiety rather than—in this case—chemical attacks. (3)

theguardian.com/world/2023/mar…
Read 16 tweets
Mar 6
CTP is publishing a special edition of our Iran Updates today in response to the dramatic escalation in poisonings of schoolgirls in #Iran on March 4 and 5. criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-…
The Iranian regime has permitted the country-wide, coordinated attacks on Iranian schoolgirls to escalate. #IranChemicalAttacks #IranianSchoolgirls #مسمومیت_دانش_آموزان
An organization able to conduct sustained attacks such as these likely has a number of distinctive characteristics. The list of necessary attributes narrows the field of organizations that could possibly be conducting these attacks considerably.
Read 6 tweets
Mar 5
Reports suggest that chemical poisonings occurred in 116 separate schools--primarily girls' schools--in #Iran today. It’s difficult to imagine a scenario wherein the regime isn’t complicit in failing to protect these children. Here’s why: (1)
#مسمومیت_دانشآموزان
Officials have blamed the poisonings on foreign actors. Others have suggested the attacks were the work of domestic groups who either aimed to punish girls sympathetic to the #Mahsa_Amini movement or sought to discourage girls from going to school. (2)

reuters.com/world/middle-e…
It's unclear why--if foreign actors are indeed behind ongoing poisonings--the regime has not deployed the surveillance and security capabilities that it used to violently suppress protests during the #Mahsa_Amini movement to protect Iranian girls. (3)
Read 12 tweets
Mar 5
NEW | #Russian forces appear to have secured a sufficient positional advantage to conduct a turning movement against certain parts of #Bakhmut but have not yet forced Ukrainian forces to withdraw and will likely not be able to encircle the city soon.

criticalthreats.org/analysis/russi…
The #WagnerGroup reportedly opened at least three new recruitment centers at #Russian sports clubs between March 2 and 4, possibly to augment Wagner’s recruitment base after losing access to prisoner recruits.
Russian forces reportedly continued offensive operations near #Svatove on March 4.
Read 5 tweets
Mar 4
Prominent Sunni cleric Moulana #Abdol_Hamid suggested that the #Iran regime may be responsible for or complicit in the recent chemical attacks on schoolgirls across the country. Today's Iran Update from @criticalthreats and @TheStudyofWar: criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-… (1/6)
Security forces sustained increased pressure against Abdol Hamid and his supporters for the second consecutive week in #Zahedan, which could fuel further sectarian tensions. (2/6)
President Ebrahim #Raisi is expanding his efforts to deflect blame for internal crises onto Iran’s foreign enemies rather than taking personal accountability. (3/6)
Read 6 tweets

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