ISW Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, Map and Update, May 13, 2026

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• The Kremlin is doubling down on its demand that Ukraine withdraw from all of Donbas as a precondition for the resumption of negotiations.
• Russia’s exaggerated territorial ambitions and aggressive territorial demands run completely counter to battlefield reality.
• US President Donald Trump said that he has not agreed with Putin that Russia should acquire all of Donetsk and Luhansk.
• Russian courts are increasingly leveraging corruption charges as a pretext to nationalize Russia’s largest corporations, likely setting conditions for the broader nationalization of private assets to support state revenues.
• Russian demands for cash reached an all-time high over Victory Day weekend, demonstrating rising societal fears over internet restrictions and tax policy.
• Ukrainian forces continue to increase the range and frequency of their long-range drones strikes against Russian oil infrastructure, exploiting overstretched Russian air defenses.
• Russian forces conducted large-scale drone strikes overnight on May 12 and throughout the day on May 13, killing at least six people.
• The Russian State Duma passed a bill granting the Russian president powers for extraterritorial military operations to protect Russian citizens abroad, previously introduced on March 10.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Slovyansk, Oleksandrivka, and Hulyaipole directions and in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

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