Russia spent 2025 rebuilding its armored forces — there may now be more tanks than at any point in the war. The 2026 plan: take Kramatorsk & Sloviansk, reach Zaporizhzhia.

3 months in, both are behind schedule. A Ukrainian counteroffensive reversed the southern advance. The 1st mechanized assaults toward Lyman ended in disaster. Kostiantynivka holds.

Analyst: Russia "might fail" to take Orikhiv & "never reach their yearly goal"
https://euromaidanpress.com/2026/04/02/kremlins-2026-goals/