Russia's army said Thursday it had captured the Ukrainian town of Ukrainsk in the eastern Donetsk region, the latest in a series of territorial gains for Moscow's advancing forces. In a daily briefing posted on Telegram,

The Rostov region in southwestern Russia borders Ukraine's Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts. It is a key agricultural area providing more than a tenth of Russia's grain. However, it has faced early spring frosts and a subsequent drought this year which have decreased production by almost a third, Reuters reported.

Positing what Russia’s postwar army will look like is a dangerous game, for a variety of variables will influence its trajectory. Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree increasing the size of the Russian Armed Forces by 180,