UKRAINE, Apr 22— The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on April 21 that Russian troops recently made minor advances west of Kreminna, Luhansk region, amid continued positional fighting on the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line.

According to the ISW, one of the main efforts of the Russian full-scale invasion is to capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and northern Donetsk Oblast. 

Geolocated footage published on April 19 shows Russian forces marginally advanced east of Yampolivka, Donetsk region. Positional fighting continued northwest of Svatove, Luhansk region, near Stelmakhivka in the same region; west of Kreminna, Luhansk region, near Terny, Donetsk region; and south of Kreminna near Bilohorivka, Luhansk region. 

The area around the Luhansk Oblast as of April 21 / Photo: ISW

According to the report, elements of the Russian 1st Guards Tank Army reportedly continue operating in the Kupiansk direction, and elements of the Russian 2nd Artillery Brigade reportedly operate near Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region.

As the General Staff informed in a morning report, there were 85 combat clashes along the frontline over the past day. Russia launched four missile strikes and 45 airstrikes and fired 71 times from multiple launch rocket systems at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various towns and villages.

ISW’s experts assess, “Ukrainian forces may suffer additional setbacks in the coming weeks while waiting for US security assistance that will allow Ukraine to stabilize the front.” They also say that, if US military aid arrives promptly, Ukrainian forces will “likely be able to blunt the current Russian offensive.” 

The ISW also predicts, “Russian forces will likely intensify ongoing offensive operations and missile and drone strikes in the coming weeks to exploit the closing window of Ukrainian material constraints.” On April 20, the US House of Representatives voted in favor of a $60.84 billion aid package for Ukraine. To transfer aid to Ukraine, the package has to pass the Senate and get the signature of President Joe Biden.

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