The anticipated Russian 2024 winter-spring offensive effort is underway in the Kharkiv-Luhansk Oblast border area. [i] Budanov forecasted that Russian forces would fail to achieve these objectives, however, and would likely be “completely exhausted” by the beginning of the spring. [ii] Budanov’s statements are consistent with ISW’s observation that Russian forces have intensified offensive operations along this axis since the beginning of January 2024. [67] Ihnat stated that it is more difficult for Ukrainian forces to shoot down drones near the frontline and that the use of electronic warfare (EW) against Russian drones is a priority for Ukraine. [69] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on January 30 that Russian forces have launched over 330 missiles and 600 drones at Ukraine since the beginning of 2024.

Source: New York Times January 31, 2024 05:17 UTC