Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggest that Russian leader Vladimir Putin's statements about the illegitimacy of the Ukrainian government and a possible future peace deal could become a tool to justify violating any agreements with Ukraine.

Putin has indicated that he will not view any peace agreement with Ukraine as binding, the Institute for the Study of War said.

The theory of victory for Russian President Vladimir Putin is based on the assumption that the West will abandon Ukraine. However, continued Western military aid to Kyiv could force him to make concessions,

Ukrainian forces recently recaptured lost positions near Toretsk, meanwhile Russian forces advanced near Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, and Kurakhove, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said in the Russian offensive campaign assessment as of January 27.

Moscow's forces have captured Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region and about to gain Toretsk, according to reports.

( MENAFN - UkrinForm) The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) is focusing a lot of attention to the claimed Russian seizure of Velyka Novosilka, very likely as part of informational efforts to shape Western perceptions of the battlefield situation in Ukraine and degrade international support for Ukraine.

NATO acknowledged that Russia is escalating a sabotage and destabilization campaign against European NATO member states to deter further military assistance to Ukraine, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) notes in an analytical report for January 28.

Russia and Iran have signed a Strategic Partnership Agreement, which includes enhanced military cooperation that could help russia in waging a war against

As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its fourth year, the Kremlin’s approach to the conflict has become increasingly clear: it is pursuing a piecemeal attritional strategy with the aim of capturing as much Ukrainian territory as possible.

The aggressor country of russia intends to annex Belarus within the next ten years in order to further use the economic resources and geographical position to

Russia said it opened criminal investigations into the alleged “cannibalistic massacre” of at least seven civilians in the western Russian village of Russkoe Porechnoye, which Ukraine has occupied since last August. Bodies were reportedly found by Russian soldiers inside the basement of a residential building.

Source: ISW Details: The analysts noted that Russian troops have made ... very likely as part of informational efforts to shape Western perceptions of the battlefield situation in Ukraine and degrade international support for Ukraine."