Slovyansk is Russia's next key goal

Russian troops are preparing an offensive against the eastern city of Slovyansk

Russian troops are preparing an offensive against the eastern city of Slovyansk in an effort to push east and link up with other forces in the Donbas region, Qazet.az reports according to the Institute for the Study of War think tank.

"Efforts by Russian forces advancing from Izyum to capture Slovyansk will likely prove to be the next pivotal battle of the war in Ukraine," the report says.

The Russians must take "Slovyansk as their minimum step".

If they are unable to do so, their effort to capture the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions "will likely fail".