Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Feb. 23, 2026
Institute for the Study of War • • world
Key Points:
- Kremlin officials used the February 23 Defender of the Fatherland Day holiday to prepare Russian society for future limited involuntary military reserve callups, with President Putin emphasizing “responsibility” and patriotism to mitigate domestic backlash.
- Russian Security Council Chair Dmitry Medvedev signaled acceptance of the social cost of continued fighting, urging soldiers to take care of themselves and their families, aiming to normalize sacrifice amid expected troop mobilizations and high battlefield casualties.
- Ukrainian forces have recently made territorial gains in southern Ukraine, liberating several settlements around Ternuvate and Oleksandrivka, despite Russian claims to the contrary; the frontline remains porous and complex with intermingled positions.
- Russia is enhancing its space-based intelligence and satellite disruption capabilities
