17 September 2024

Ukraine Military Situation: Despite Russia’s Offensive Slowing In Eastern Ukraine, Region Remains Volatile – Analysis

Can Kasapoğlu

1. Battlefield Assessment

Though Russia’s offensive is slowing in eastern Ukraine, the region remains volatile and dangerous. Ukraine has deployed National Guard formations and detachments of the Kara-Dag Brigade and the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade to stabilize the front and conduct tactical counteroffensives.

Nonetheless, the Kremlin has managed to gain territory. The Russian military captured Nevelske, a town near Pokrovsk, and boosted offensive action near Vuhledar. Near Niu-York, south of Toretsk, Ukraine deployed the battle-hardened Azov Brigade to break a dangerous siege and recapture territory. Yet the balance of power in this sector still favors Russia.

In the Russian region of Kursk, Ukrainian forces continue to occupy significant territory and have maintained an attritional operational tempo. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, the commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stated that his units now control more than 100 settlements in an area encompassing 500 square miles and stretching 21 miles inside Russia. Kyiv’s surprise campaign has reportedly also captured 600 prisoners of war.

Following an initial tactical shock, the Russian military has started to deploy firm combat formations to augment its defensive operations. Open-source intelligence suggests that the Russian General Staff has fielded detachments of naval infantry and Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) units to the Kursk region.


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