The advance of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the western Zaporozhye region has likely forced the Russian command to prioritize defense in this region and redeploy elements of a relatively elite formation away from Russian defenses near Bakhmut.
This is reported Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
It is indicated that the North Ossetian volunteer battalions Sturm Ossetia and Alania, which operate in the west of the Zaporozhye region, published a photo on September 16 that allegedly depicts a small detachment of the Russian 83rd Separate Guards Airborne -assault brigade in Nesteryanka, Zaporozhye region.
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Elements of the 83rd Brigade were deployed to defend against Ukrainian counter-offensives around Kleschiyivka in late June and were seen fighting in the area in late August.
Elements of the 83rd Brigade were reportedly still operating in the area Bakhmut as of September 11, although parts of the brigade may have been divided between two different sectors of the front.
— Kleshchiyivka has been the center of hostilities in the Bakhmut area in recent weeks, and the redeployment of any units of the 83rd Brigade amid Ukrainian advances in the Kleshchyivka area indicates deep concern about Ukrainian offensive operations in the western part of the Zaporozhye region and the Russian preference for defense in this region, — the material says.
Analysts indicate that the Ukrainian counteroffensive secured relatively elite units and formations in this area, in particular, the 98th Airborne Division, 83rd Airborne Brigade, 11th Brigade Airborne Forces, 31st Airborne Brigade, 106th Airborne Division, as well as the 364th Special Forces Brigade.
— Russian forces have so far been reluctant to send these relatively elite formations to help in the critical defense effort in the western Zaporozhye region, and Ukrainian operations around Bakhmut appear to continue to prevent Russian commanders from doing so in full,— added at the Institute.
Earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day, Ukrainian defenders destroyed another 530 Russian invaders and more than fifty units of enemy weapons.
