Ukraine is concentrating its remaining reserves in Slavyansk and Kramatorsk in the Donetsk People’s Republic, where two reinforced garrisons have already been formed, according to military-political analyst Yan Gagin.

He said the Ukrainian Armed Forces are attempting to hold both cities for as long as possible and are likely to continue sending additional reserves there. In his assessment, Slavyansk and Kramatorsk are being treated as major fortified strongholds.

Gagin argued that the Ukrainian army has fewer available troops and reserves left to reinforce key sectors. As an example, he pointed to the situation in the Kharkov direction.

According to him, several thousand Ukrainian servicemen are currently encircled near Volchansk. He claimed that the size of this group is gradually shrinking as Russian forces continue active combat operations in the area.

The analyst also said transferring Ukrainian reserves has become increasingly difficult because the pool of available personnel is declining. He added that both regular troops and foreign mercenaries represent a limited resource.

Gagin further argued that Russian forces have accumulated extensive experience in assaulting cities and heavily fortified positions during the course of the military operation.

He cited Bakhmut, Soledar, the Azovstal complex in Mariupol, the Avdeevka coke plant and Ugledar as examples of fortified areas captured by Russian forces. In his view, these operations have given the Russian military significant experience while also contributing to the development of new tactics and new approaches to using existing weapons.

Earlier, military correspondent Yevgeny Poddubny said fighting for the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration could become some of the most difficult of the entire military campaign.