ISW assesses whether Russia's new army corps will be able to change situation in Donbas

This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). 

The ISW assumes that the newly formed battalions, which are part of the 3rd Army Corps of the Russian Federation, will be deployed in Ukraine to resume offensive operations in the direction of Donetsk and in the south.

The battalions formed by Russia were divided into two groups. Some of them are sent to the front immediately after a short basic training. Others were combined into the new 3rd Army Corps. Janes Intelligence Group's analysis of new images from the corps' combat training at the Mulino training ground in Nizhny Novgorod found that troops are training with more advanced Russian equipment, such as BMP-3, T-80BVM and T-90M tanks, as well as the latest variants of AK-12 assault rifles. This fact indicates that the Russian military intends to involve them in offensive operations and hopes to restore their pace.

Parts of the 3rd Army Corps are being deployed closer to Russia's border with Ukraine. In particular, on August 27, the Conflict Intelligence Team spotted T-80BV and T-90M tanks that were in Mulino, Rostov Region. The Russians are likely to bring in a corps to reinforce offensive operations near Donetsk, where the advance near Marinka, Pisky, and Avdiivka has stalled after achieving some success. Other parts of the 3rd Army Corps can be deployed in the southern direction, in particular, in the Kherson region.

Meanwhile, ISW analysts concluded that the new units were unlikely to create an effective combat force.

"Better equipment doesn't necessarily make a force more effective if the personnel are not well trained and disciplined. Many mercenaries have no combat experience. And the images obtained show that they are physically unfit and old", the ISW concluded.