Push at Robotyne
ISW: Ukraine is making tactically significant progress
08/12/2023, 08:10 am
In its counter-offensive, Ukraine continues to attack at least three front sectors simultaneously. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), they are now making an important advance in Robotyne in Zaporizhia Oblast. Geographical recordings would prove that.
Ukrainian forces have made tactically significant advances in western Zaporizhia Oblast, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Geographical footage released on Friday confirms that Ukrainian forces have reached the northern outskirts of Robotyne in western Zaporizhia, ISW writes in its latest situation report.
Not much can be said about the duration and extent of these positions. Ukrainian forces have been conducting regular ground attacks on Robotyne for weeks in a bid to weaken Russian defenses. In addition, the ability of Ukrainian forces to penetrate the outskirts of Robotyne – which Russian forces are defending with a significant investment of time and resources – remains important, although Ukrainian gains are currently limited.
Geographical footage released on Friday shows Ukrainian forces advancing in Urozhaine, nine kilometers south of Velyka Novosilka, along the border between Donetsk region and Zaporizhia. Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces pushed back Russian troops into the settlement on Thursday and Friday. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continued their counter-offensive towards Bakhmut, Berdyansk and Melitopol.
Russia must shift reserves
Ukrainian counter-offensives appear to be forcing Russian forces, with success at Robotyne, to shift sideways, suggesting Ukrainian efforts there could significantly weaken Russian defenses, ISW writes. Russian milbloggers claimed on Friday that elements of the 7th Guards Airborne Division (WDV) were engaged in heavy fighting near Robotyne in western Zaporizhia Oblast.
Chechen Republic leader Ramzan Kadyrov claimed the day before that elements of the “Vostok Ahmat” battalion are now defending near Robotyne. The arrival of the 7th WDV Division and the Achmat elements in the Robotyne area represents the first explicit commitment of new Russian formations and units in the area, the situation report said.