Russians unable to increase pace of offensive - ISW

The current pace of russian operations is not markedly different from what it was during the officially declared operational pause. This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Russian forces carried out several limited and well-localized ground attacks on July 21. The current pace of russian operations is not markedly different from what it was during the officially declared operational pause between July 7 and 16. Russian forces have continued to conduct small attacks against northwest of Sloviansk and in the area of ​​Siversk and Bakhmut, without capturing a single decisive position, - the message says.

It is noted that since July 16, russian troops have continued local attacks east of Siversk, as well as east and south of Bakhmut.

"As of July 21, they have not made significant territorial gains in these areas. In fact, the grouping of russian troops northwest of Sloviansk carried out fewer ground strikes along the border of the Kharkiv and Donetsk oblasts than during the official operational pause", - the ISW writes.

The lack of successful ground attacks outside of the Sloviansk, Siversk and Bakhmut areas is consistent with the ISW assessment that the russian advance is likely to end without the capture of Sloviansk or Bakhmut.