Ukrainian troop positions spark counteroffensive speculation

The fiercest battles have been in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia is struggling to encircle the city of Bakhmut (Iryna Rybakova via AP)

Ukrainian military forces have successfully established positions on the eastern side of the Dnieper River, according to a new analysis, giving rise to speculation that the advances could be an early sign of Kyiv’s long-awaited spring counteroffensive.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a US-based think tank, reported on Saturday that geolocated footage from pro-Kremlin military bloggers indicated that Ukrainian troops had established a foothold near the town of Oleshky, along with “stable supply lines” to their positions.