ISW: Ukraine Is Capable Of Containing Russia

• 27.11.2025, 11:45

Analysts have named the key conditions for success.

Ukraine is capable of halting further Russian troop advances and stabilizing the situation on the frontline with proper military support from Western partners combined with sanctions.

This is according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"Ukrainian forces have proven effective in deterring Russian troop advances and conducting successful counteroffensives, especially if they are well manned and equipped," the report said.

In particular, Ukraine forced Russian forces to withdraw from Kiev Oblast and other regions of northern Ukraine in April 2022, liberated a significant part of Kharkiv Oblast during a counteroffensive in September and October 2022, and forced Russia to abandon the right-bank Kherson Oblast in November 2022.

The ISW analysts note that Ukrainian forces "inflicted disproportionately high losses on Russia compared to the volume of gains," forcing the enemy to waste time, manpower, and equipment on grueling offensives.

The Institute recalled that Ukrainian forces also disrupted Russian offensives in the northern Kharkiv and Sumy regions in the spring of 2024 and January 2025, respectively.

According to analysts, Ukraine has forced Russia into a positional war that deprives Russia of the ability to conduct operational maneuver.

"Timely and sufficient Western military assistance and arms sales to Ukraine, combined with decisive economic measures by the United States and other Western countries against Russia, may allow Ukraine to halt Russia's advance on the battlefield, especially if Ukrainian forces use their well-developed fortifications in the Donetsk region," ISW wrote.