Russians deploy additional forces to intensify offensive on Pokrovsk – ISW
www.pravda.com.ua
Sun, 19 Jan 2025 05:18:18 +0200
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War ISW point out that the Russians are redeploying their units, particularly from the Kurakhove front, and deploying additional forces to strengthen their offensive on Pokrovsk.
Source ISW Details The analysts suggest that Russias Central Grouping of Forces has assembled a strike group consisting of units from the 2nd and 41st combined arms armies CAAs south of Pokrovsk, likely as part of ongoing Russian efforts to intensify offensive operations south and southwest of the city.
ISW has previously observed signs that Russian military commanders have assigned a zone of responsibility to units of the 2nd Motorised Rifle Brigade south and southwest of Pokrovsk and units of the 41st Motorised Rifle Brigade east of Pokrovsk.
The analysts believe that the decision of the Russian military command to create a strike group consisting of these units indicates that Russian troops may be reprioritising tactical tasks on the Pokrovsk front to create conditions for using more favourable routes to advance closer to the immediate flanks of Pokrovsk.
Quote from ISW The Russian military command may redeploy these units to areas south of Pokrovsk if the Russian command continues to prioritize tactical advances in the direction of Pokrovsks southern flanks in the coming weeks and months.
Details The Russian military command also announced the redeployment of elements of the second unit of the 51st CAA from the Kurakhove front to conduct offensive operations east of Pokrovsk.
Quote from ISW The Russian military command may be deprioritising offensive operations in the Kurakhove direction and redeploying forces from Kurakhove to reinforce the Pokrovsk direction now that Russian forces have accomplished their objective of seizing Kurakhove, as elements of the 5th and 110th reportedly participated in the seizure of Kurahkove in late December 2024.
It is unclear whether the Russian command reinforced or sufficiently reconstituted degraded Russian units that recently participated in battles to seize Kurakhove and its environs to the point they may effectively operate on the current frontline in Pokrovsk.
Details The ISWs assessment suggests that the Russian military command is likely to decide to redeploy parts of the brigades to a priority area of the line of contact, and the Russian military command appears to have decided to redeploy these forces to conduct offensive operations east of Pokrovsk.
Experts add that the Russian military command appears to be trying to use the units to advance east of Pokrovsk and surround the city and may be planning to redeploy additional units from the 51st CAA to reinforce these efforts in the future.
Quote from ISW Russian forces will likely continue to make gains as part of their intensified effort to envelop Pokrovsk from the northeast and southwest, particularly if Russian forces can identify and exploit tactical vulnerabilities in Ukrainian defences along Pokrovsks flanks.
Details However, the review adds, the pace of such an advance will likely remain slow, as Russian forces have not yet demonstrated the ability to perform the rapid mechanised manoeuvre required to break through Ukrainian defence lines and encircle Pokrovsk with sufficient speed.
To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 18 January Ukrainian forces struck two Russian oil depots in Kaluga and Tula oblasts on the night of 1718 January.
Ukrainian forces also targeted a Russian air defence system and radars in occupied Ukraine on the night of 1718 January.
The Russian Central Grouping of Forces appears to have assembled a strike group comprising units of the 2nd and 41st combined arms armies CAAs south of Pokrovsk, likely as part of ongoing Russian efforts to intensify offensive operations south and southwest of the town.
The Russian military command also reportedly redeployed elements of a second unit of the 51st CAA from the Kurakhove direction to offensive operations east of Pokrovsk amid ongoing efforts to intensify activity in this area.
NATO officials are reportedly preparing for a joint NATOGeorgia exercise scheduled for March 2025.
Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and on the Chasiv Yar and Velyka Novosilka fronts.
Ukrainian forces recently recaptured lost positions on the Kharkiv front.
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