#Ukrainian Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov stated on March 25 that Russian occupation authorities and Ukrainian collaborators held a secret meeting wherein they prepared plans to evacuate from #Zaporizhia Oblast.
Such preparations are understandable due to pervasive #Russian fear of a pending #Ukrainian counteroffensive in #Zaporizhia Oblast, on which ISW has previously reported. 2/
The reported readiness of occupation authorities to evacuate suggests that occupation authorities may have low confidence in the ability of #Russian forces to stop a #Ukrainian counteroffensive. 3/3
NEW: Rumors about the dismissal of #Russian Eastern Group of Forces Commander Colonel General Rustam #Muradov generated a muted and cynical response in the Russian information space. #Ukraine
One prominent milblogger claimed that military authorities are also considering dismissing Western Military District Commander Colonel General Yevgeny #Nikiforov, whose forces operate along the #Kupyansk-#Svatove-#Kreminna line in eastern #Ukraine. 2/
ISW cannot confirm the rumors of either #Muradov’s or #Nikiforov’s dismissals, but it is noteworthy that #Russian milbloggers are discussing potential dismissals of commanders associated with areas of operation in which . . . 3/
The outcomes of wars often are, in fact, determined on the battlefield with negotiations that merely ratify military realities. Putin likely has one such example vividly in his mind—World War II in Europe. 1/
WWII ended only when Allied forces had completely defeated the German military and Soviet troops stood in the wreckage of Berlin. Japan surrendered a few months later after the US had demonstrated what appeared to be the ability to destroy the country completely. 2/
Going further back in history the peaces that ended the three Wars of German Unification, the American Civil War, and the Napoleonic Wars also merely ratified realities created by decisive military victories. Even the most recently ended war adhered to this pattern. 3/
The continuing of #Russian offensive operations around #Bakhmut and #Avdiivka, as well as along the #Luhansk and western #Donetsk front lines, is a further indicator that #Putin remains committed to victory in a protracted war.
#Prigozhin claimed that unspecified #Russian authorities forced state-controlled media outlet RT—which has consistently promoted #Wagner operations in #Ukraine—to cut the first half of a film on the role of Russian convicts in the war because it centered on the Wagner Group. 2/
#Prigozhin claimed that #Russian authorities want to convince the populace that “pomaded generals” in fancy offices really won the war. 3/
#Ukrainian and Western officials offered various views of the state of the #Russian offensive in #Bakhmut on March 25, but all are consistent with the assessment that the Russian effort around Bakhmut is likely culminating.
#Russian forces may continue to attack #Bakhmut frequently and aggressively even if the offensive has culminated with little to no success, as ISW has previously assessed, as culmination does not mean the absence of fighting. 2/
#Russian attacks in and around #Bakhmut may resume at high levels without generating significant new gains if conventional Russian forces do, in fact, enter the fray. 3/
2/ #Prigozhin stated that #Russia is fighting “exclusively with #Ukrainians” who are equipped with #NATO-provided equipment and some “russophobic” mercenaries who voluntarily support #Ukraine - but not NATO itself.
3/ #Prigozhin also noted that #Russian officials most likely knew that #NATO would offer #Ukraine military aid, because “it is ridiculous to think that when [#Russia] decided to conduct this special military operation it did not account for NATO’s help to Ukraine.”