Ukrainian forces have made further tactically significant gains in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and several Ukrainian and Russian sources have reported that Ukrainian forces are advancing through what Ukrainian and American sources suggest is the most complex series of prepared Russian defensive positions.
The report says the Ukrainian troops are now in the distance of the next blow to a series of prepared Russian defensive positions, which may be weaker than the previous ones, but still pose a significant challenge.
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The series of defensive positions, through which Ukrainian troops are now advancing, consists of dense layers of minefields and fortifications. Russian troops have spent a significant amount of manpower, materiel and effort to reinforce them.
These Russian defensive positions, which are in the path of the Ukraine’s forces, most likely consist of a relatively denser array of anti-tank ditches, anti-tank barriers such as so-called "dragon's teeth" and additional minefields along which Russian combat positions are located, as well as on the first Russian line of defence.
Experts note that each of these Russian "lines" are multi-layered defensive positions with their own advanced and rear areas, and it is important to distinguish between the rear areas of individual Russian defensive positions and the Russian defence in Ukraine's south as a whole.
The Institute explains that "Russian defensive lines are additionally notional in the sense that Russian prepared positions are not uniform across the front in southern Ukraine, and are not fully manned.
There are additional series of prepared Russian defensive positions further south of the current Ukrainian advance, although Russian forces will only be able to fully leverage these positions if they have the available personnel and materiel to incorporate them into cohesive defensive operations."
The report also cites a Ukrainian source, which says Russian troops redeployed forces of a relatively elite formation from around Kreminna area in Luhansk Oblast to the vicinity of Robotyne in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
It is also noted that Russian irregular formations continue to threaten to withdraw from hostilities unilaterally, despite the recent efforts of the Russian military command to purge and suppress disobedience.
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