Russia is slowly making progress taking ground in its invasion of Ukraine, according to the latest assessment from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) think tank.
The Washington DC based organisation said that Russian troops are moving more methodically and less rapidly than at earlier stages in the war, and have begun making "sounder" military choices.
Russian soldiers in the east are confronting dug-in Ukrainian troops, who have been fortifying their position against possible Russian attacks since 2014.
But closer to Kharkiv in the northeast, the Russians are finding less resistance due to the Ukrainian positions being more newly established after the invasion had already begun.
Fighting is continuing in the southern city of Mariupol. In addition to the Azovstal Plant stronghold, the Ukrainians "likely still hold important positions beyond the plant itself", ISW said.
Meanwhile, Russian false flag attacks continue in neighbouring Moldova. The think tank says the explosions there may be an effort to draw pro-Russian troops in the Transnistria region into the conflict.
