Ukraine Strengthens Its Position in War Against Russia, Reports ISW

The struggle for Ukraine to solidify its position in the war against Russia continues, as evidenced by the recent report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts from this organization note that Ukrainian forces are achieving tactical, operational, and strategic results, which reflects a positive trend on the battlefield.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized in his statements that, according to data from Ukrainian and British intelligence, the situation along the front lines is the most favorable for Ukraine in the past ten months, dating back to June 2025. This suggests that Ukrainian troops are effectively countering Russian aggressors.

Zelensky also pointed out that previously, Russian forces exploited poor visibility during foggy weather to launch attacks and penetrate Ukrainian territory. However, according to ISW's assessment, the spring weather with clear days will complicate the Russian military's ability to move unnoticed, which could provide an advantage to Ukrainian forces.

ISW highlighted that Ukraine has achieved not only tactical but also operational successes that could have strategic implications for the course of combat operations at the end of winter 2025 and the beginning of spring. By the end of January 2026, Ukrainian forces began to demonstrate significant successes in southern Ukraine, resulting in a chain reaction along the front. This forced Russian troops to choose between defending against Ukrainian counterattacks and reallocating personnel and resources to other sectors of the front line.

Previously, ISW analysts noted that Ukrainian counterattacks could even hinder Russia's plans for an offensive campaign in the spring-summer of 2026. This indicates that Ukrainian forces are capable not only of defending but also of actively transitioning to offensive operations, inflicting substantial losses on the enemy.

The ISW report also mentions that Russia has repeatedly attempted to spread disinformation claiming that the Ukrainian front line is 'on the brink of collapse,' trying to convince the West to make concessions regarding demands that it cannot fulfill militarily. However, recent successes by Ukraine indicate that it is not facing collapse; on the contrary, it continues to strengthen its positions.

ISW analysts believe that Ukraine's efforts in technological innovation are yielding increasingly operational results. 'These innovations in drone technology enhance Ukraine's combat effectiveness and deepen Russia's personnel challenges — all of which could have long-term operational and even strategic impacts on Russia's combat capabilities,' the report states.

Thus, the situation on the front lines indicates that Ukraine is actively strengthening its position in the war against Russia, continuing to achieve new successes and implementing innovations that could significantly alter the course of combat operations in the near future.