Russian losses in Zaporizhzhia region have significantly increased - ISW

The Institute for the Study of War reports.

According to Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces Spokesperson Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, Russian forces lost 313 personnel (likely a total of killed and wounded) in the Tavriisk direction on September 18, including the western part of Zaporizhzhia region.

He also stated that these losses were significantly higher than in the previous two days when Russian troops lost approximately 200 people daily.

It is noted that the Russian Airborne (VDV) forces are conducting defensive operations in the Tavriisk direction (likely in western Zaporizhia Oblast) and that “Storm-Z” detachments with convict recruits have arrived to act as “cover” for VDV units.

According to analysts, some elements of the 7th Guards Mountain VDV Division and 76th Guards VDV Division conducting counterattacks against Ukrainian forces in the Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv) area, and ISW has previously assessed that these operations have likely degraded these VDV forces heavily.

“Storm-Z detachments are often combat ineffective and will likely provide the Russian defense in western Zaporizhia region with marginal combat power,” ISW notes.

• The commander of the 31st Ulyanovsk Air Assault Brigade of the Russian Army, Colonel Andrey Kondrashkin, call sign "Danube", was killed in the war against Ukraine.

• Over the past day, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled Russian attacks and eliminated another 520 Russian soldiers.