The axes of attack
1
Main effort Eastern Ukraine — Russian likely objective is to surround Ukrainian forces in Eastern Ukraine and capture the entirety of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts.
2
Supporting effort Kharkiv city — Russian objective to keep positions on the outskirts of Kharkiv, defend ground lines of communication and prevent Ukrainian counterattacks.
3
Supporting effort southern axis — Russian objective to defend Kherson and Zaporizhzhia against Ukrainian counterattacks.