Geolocated footage posted on March 6 and 7 shows Russian positions in eastern Bakhmut within 200 m of the Bakhmutka River and Russian forces comfortably operating in areas in eastern Bakhmut where they previously had not been observed, the US-based Institute for the Study of War, ISW writes. ISW continues to assess, however, that Russian forces lack the capability to exploit the tactical capture of Bakhmut to generate operational effects, and will likely rapidly culminate following the capture of Bakhmut.

Russian forces likely lack the mechanized forces necessary to advance beyond Bakhmut, and the tactical “assault detachments” used in assaults against Bakhmut are likely unable to conduct maneuver warfare. Russian forces remain unlikely to secure more than a tactical victory following 10 months of assaults, the ISW writes.