Russian forces are intensifying their strike campaign on the eastern Ukrainian city of Sloviansk to disrupt Ukrainian defensive logistics and prepare for a ground offensive, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War.
Military analysts at the Washington-based research group said Russian troops are replicating tactics used during operations in Kostiantynivka, using heavy bombardment to turn urban areas into ruins before advancing on the ground.
Vadym Lyakh, head of the Sloviansk Military Administration, reported on the eve of the study that Russian forces have increased the density of their attacks around the city. In addition to guided aerial bombs, known as KABs, and strike drones, Russian troops have begun firing Smerch and Tornado-S multiple launch rocket systems into the area.
The Institute for the Study of War explained that during operations in Kostiantynivka, heavy aerial bomb strikes reduced city districts to rubble, which Russian troops then used for cover and camouflage. Analysts said Russian commanders are likely applying those same lessons to set conditions for future offensives against Sloviansk.
Tactical objectives east of Sloviansk
The research group noted that Russian forces must secure several tactical objectives east and southeast of Sloviansk before launching a direct assault on the city. These key targets include the larger settlements of Rai-Oleksandrivka and Mykolaivka, as well as their surrounding territory.
According to the report, Russian commanders view Mykolaivka as a primary tactical goal because capturing it would allow Russian troops to advance westward toward Sloviansk while bypassing difficult terrain. The movement is part of broader preparations for large-scale offensives against Sloviansk and the rest of the eastern defense network known as the Fortress Belt.
A Ukrainian soldier known by the call sign Muchnoy said Russian troops have penetrated the area surrounding the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant. He reported that enemy forces have also reached the outskirts of a high-rise residential district to the east, an area that has faced systematic airstrikes over recent months.
Muchnoy said this progress indicates that enemy troops are gradually approaching urban residential areas so they can use damaged and destroyed buildings for further advancement. The Institute for the Study of War concluded that Russian forces remain actively engaged in preparing the battlefield for planned future ground operations against Sloviansk.
