Russian armed forces continue to increase the density of personnel and equipment on the Lyman axis, which, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), may indicate preparations for intensified offensive operations. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a fresh analytical report by the American institute. The Lyman axis is located to the northeast of Slavyansk and has recently remained one of the most tense sections of the front, where, according to data from the Russian General Staff, Russian troops reached the outskirts of Krasny Lyman as early as July 2026.

Foreign Recruits: Up to 30% of Personnel on Certain Sections

ISW analysts note that Russian forces are increasingly deploying foreign fighters. According to a representative of a Ukrainian brigade operating on the Slavyansk axis, the share of foreign recruits in the Russian troop strength on this section recently rose to approximately 30%. In his assessment, these are predominantly servicemen from Latin American, African, and Southeast Asian countries. At the same time, the same Ukrainian military officer emphasized that Russian units, despite the visible buildup of forces, remain inadequately prepared for large-scale operations.

Strikes on Logistics and River Crossings

In parallel with the buildup of forces, Russian troops are concentrating strikes on Ukrainian logistics facilities and river crossings. In particular, attacks on crossings over the Oskil and Seversky Donets rivers have been recorded. According to ISW, such actions may be part of preparations for an upcoming intensification of offensive operations on the Lyman axis: the destruction of crossings and rear logistics hinders the movement of Ukrainian reserves and the reinforcement of defenses on threatened sections.

Official Kyiv Position: Pace of Advance Is Slowing

Deputy Head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine Pavlo Palisa stated that Kyiv is recording a slowdown in the pace of Russian troop advances along the front. According to him, the active line of contact remains approximately 1,200 km long, however, on certain axes the Defense Forces are preparing further active operations. He also noted that Ukraine is gradually narrowing the gap between the areas of territory occupied by Russia and those sections that Ukrainian troops have managed to liberate since the beginning of 2026.

Contradictory Data

There are notable discrepancies in the assessments of the parties and sources, which is important to take into account. On the one hand, ISW interprets the buildup of forces and strikes on crossings as preparations for an intensified offensive on the Lyman axis. On the other hand, official Kyiv (Palisa's statement) speaks of a slowdown in the pace of Russian advance and of the fact that Ukrainian forces are preparing their own active operations. These two pictures are not necessarily mutually exclusive — a buildup may precede an offensive that has not yet occurred — but they send opposite signals about the near-term dynamics of the front. In addition, the figure of “30% foreign recruits” is based on the statement of a single representative of a Ukrainian brigade and has not been confirmed by independent fact-checking, so it should be treated as an approximate rather than a precise estimate.