Ukrainian forces make marginal gains south of Kreminna – ISW

Ukrainian forces have made marginal gains south of Kreminna as of April 24 and continue to target Russian logistics nodes in rear areas of Luhansk region, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says in a report for April 24.

In turn, Russian troops, according to analysts, continued ground attacks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region and its environs, as well as along Avdiyivka-Donetsk front line.

“Some Russian sources denied claims from other Russian milbloggers that Ukrainian forces established enduring positions in east (left) bank Kherson region,” the message reads.

ISW also reports with reference to the Wall Street Journal that the Russian Federation is replenishing ammunition stocks in Iran. “The WSJ, citing unnamed Middle Eastern officials, stated that cargo ships have carried over 300,000 artillery shells and a million ammunition rounds from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea over the past six months. The unnamed officials reportedly said that the last known shipment left Iran for Astrakhan in early March and carried 1,000 containers with 2,000 artillery shells. The WSJ noted that the Iranian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has a contract with Russian state-owned joint stock company Rosobronexport for the sale of 74,000 artillery shells at a price of $1.7 million,” the analysts say.

At the same time, with reference to an unnamed Russian source, ISW reports that there is no confirmation of the arrival of these munitions to the front yet, despite the ongoing Russian-Iranian defense cooperation.

“The Kremlin continues crypto-mobilization efforts likely in an attempt to avoid a second wave of formal mobilization,” the report reads.