Russian army attacks in east to continue without end in sight, despite their issues

Illustrative photo (photo: facebook.com)

Russian troops are suffering from low morale, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

National Guard of Ukraine representative Colonel Ruslan Muzychuk stated that Russian forces in eastern Ukraine have recently not used large units for assaults, instead employing groups divided into two detachments, reinforced with armour, for ground attacks.

According to the representative, Russian forces also use small, unprotected vehicles for rapid approach to Ukrainian positions and create conditions for further groups of Russian infantry to secure these positions.

Press officer of the Ukrainian 26th Artillery Brigade Oleh Kalashnikov stated that Russian forces in the Bakhmut direction do not conduct ground attacks the size of a battalion because Ukrainian drones promptly detect them, and instead, Russian forces use groups no larger than a company.

Kalashnikov stated that Russian troops in the Bakhmut direction were suffering from low morale and were using blocking detachments to hinder the retreat of Russian soldiers.

Russian forces previously employed mass frontal attacks led by infantry when capturing Bakhmut and at the beginning of Russian efforts to capture Avdiivka. However, it appears that recently, Russian forces have shifted to using small infantry groups for ground attacks.

Russian sources also recently indicated that Russian forces were suffering from exhaustion and lacked rotation, but they had to fight at new positions west of Avdiivka after its capture by Russia.

ISW has previously (and not always accurately) assessed how low morale and exhaustion among Russian troops have affected the prospects of Russian offensive operations. However, the current lack of financial resources in Ukraine may complicate Ukrainian forces’ defense against Russian troops – even those that are exhausted and unmotivated. ISW continues to assess that Russia’s capabilities to exploit vulnerabilities in Ukraine will expand as long as the shortage of Ukrainian equipment persists.