Ukrainian intelligence continues to assess that the Kremlin is committed to its military goal of achieving the complete surrender of Ukraine and is preparing for a potential future conflict with NATO.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Ukrainian intelligence also assesses that Russia faces a number of critical constraints in its economy and on the battlefield.
Limitations in the Russian defense industry's own production force it to rely on its allies and partners and find low-cost solutions to adapt to Ukrainian drone capabilities and counter-drones devices.
On the night of May 25-26, Russian forces carried out one of their largest drone and missile strikes of the war in Ukraine, following three nights of record-breaking strikes.
The May 25-26 strike is now the second-largest combined strike of the war, after Russian forces carried out the largest combined strike on the night of May 24-25.
Russia's increased missile stockpiles, drone production, and adaptation of unmanned aerial vehicles demonstrate Russia's commitment to achieving its military objectives by military means in a protracted war in Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent demand for Russian forces to create a "buffer zone" along the Russian-Ukrainian international border, in addition to Russia’s ongoing efforts to seize the rest of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson regions, ignores Russia’s limitations and underscores Putin’s intent to expand his territorial claims.
On May 25 and 26, Ukrainian forces launched a series of drone strikes on Russian defense-industrial facilities in the Republic of Tatarstan and in the Ivanovo and Tula regions.
The Kremlin’s ongoing cognitive warfare efforts aimed at deterring future Western military assistance to Ukraine are rooted in fear and recognition that Russia’s only real hope of defeating Ukraine is to isolate it from its allies.
Recently, Russian forces have advanced into Sumy region and near Vovchansk, Liman, and Toretsk.