Key Takeaways from the ISW:
- The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces seized the entirety of Luhansk Oblast for the third time over the course of Russia’s full-scale invasion, even though Russian forces have controlled most of Luhansk Oblast since October 2022.
- The Kremlin’s aggrandized claims about the seizure of Luhansk Oblast are part of a wider coordinated information campaign that aims to create a false sense of urgency to force Ukraine to cede unoccupied parts of Donetsk Oblast.
- Russian forces conducted another prolonged strike series against Ukraine with a total of 700 drones launched in two waves on the night of March 31 to April 1 and during the day on April 1.
- Russia’s new tactic of prolonged nighttime and daytime strikes reflects aspects of the way Iran is currently launching drone and missile salvos at Israel and the Gulf.
- ISW has observed reports of seven Ukrainian drones crashing in Baltic and Finnish territory since March 23, possibly as a result of Russian electronic warfare (EW) efforts.
- Russian exports of non-energy resources are benefiting from the ongoing war in the Middle East.
- The Kremlin is reportedly turning to university students as part of its forced covert mobilization efforts.
- The European Union (EU) will transfer €1.4 billion in proceeds from frozen Russian assets to aid Ukraine.
- Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Pokrovsk and Hulyaipole directions.
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