These Ukrainian counterattacks are likely leveraging the recent block on Russian forces’ access to Starlink, which Russian milbloggers have claimed is causing communications and command and control (C2) issues on the battlefield.[24] Mashovets reported on February 5 that the Russian military command is preparing for the summer 2026 offensive in the Slovyansk-Kramatorsk direction and/or the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia City direction but that Russian forces are struggling to seize the necessary starting positions to launch the offensive on the command’s intended timeline.[25] Recent tactical Ukrainian counterattacks in the Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole directions have likely further hindered Russian forces’ ability to properly prepare for a summer offensive toward Orikhiv and Zaporizhzhia City from the east.