ISW: Russian army tries to draw defense forces away from Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region

The Institute for the Study of War reports.

It is noted that the Russian forces intensified offensive operations northwest of Avdiivka near Ocheretyne, Tonenke, and Berdychi and southwest of Avdiivka on the Vodyane-Opytne line. They also attacked southwest of Orikhiv on the Pyatykhatky-Zherebyanky line, and Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces advanced up two kilometers in the area.

Russian milbloggers are largely portraying the Avdiivka-area operations as a significant offensive effort aimed at encircling the Ukrainian force grouping in Avdiivka and capturing the city. According to analysts, the successful encirclement of Avdiivka, one of the most heavily fortified areas of the Donetsk Oblast front line, would very likely require more forces than Russia has currently dedicated to the Avdiivka-Donetsk City effort.

In addition, the ISW notes that the so-called Russian offensive coincides with other localized offensive efforts in Luhansk and eastern Zaporizhzhia regions, all of which are likely aimed at fixing Ukrainian forces and preventing the Ukrainian command from transferring reserves to critical frontline areas in western Zaporizhzhia region.

• Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of forces in the south, said that Ukrainian troops eliminated 147 Russian soldiers over the last day and had partial success in the area of Verbove.