Russian army tries to change command system amid problems with shells, logistics – ISW

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analysts said.

The publication states that the Russian forces have made notable changes to their command and control in Ukraine to protect command infrastructure and improve information sharing, although Russian force deployments are likely still exacerbating issues with horizontal integration.

According to a September 6 statement by Deputy Director of Analysis of Center for Security and Emerging Technology (CSET) Margarita Konaev and CSET Fellow Owen Daniels, Russian forces moved headquarters out of range of most Ukrainian strike systems and have placed forward command posts further underground and behind heavily defended positions.

Experts note that it remains unclear whether Russian forces have employed this more protected command infrastructure throughout Ukraine and to what degree these defensive efforts have impeded Ukraine’s ongoing interdiction campaign.

According to Konaev and Daniels, Russian troops have improved communications between command posts and units at the front by laying field cables and using safer radio communications.

The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) stated on September 4 that Russian forces are also trying to improve signals through the wider use of application-based C2 services that require less training.

At the same time, Konaev and Daniels point out, Russian soldiers still often transmit confidential information through unsecure channels.

The experts concluded that Russian troops still face challenges creating a horizontally integrated command structure to share information across different units in real time.

It is also reported that due to the Russian forces' artillery constraints, they are intensifying long-standing efforts to implement a fire doctrine that prioritizes accuracy over volume, as it is already problematic for the Russians to conduct massive fire from closed positions, and they are also experiencing difficulties in transporting large quantities of ammunition to the front line.

Russia is also reportedly increasing the production of Krasnopol laser-guided shells and Lancet drones (loitering munitions) to increase fires accuracy.

"Russian units at the front are rapidly learning and innovating, but their ability to fully implement the desired RFC will likely be constrained by their ability to issue improved communications systems — and provide necessary training — to forces in combat," the publication reads.

Analysts also said that Russian troops are adapting their deployment of electronic warfare (EW) complexes. RUSI said that Russian forces are dispersing Pole-21 systems and treating them as disposable EW systems in order to provide wide-area protection from Ukrainian drone strikes.

• On September 7, Ukrainian army successfully pushed the Russian troops out of their positions and consolidated their gains. Over one day of the war in Ukraine, Russia has lost 640 soldiers, 23 tanks, and 31 artillery systems.