ISW reveals changes in Russia's offensive tactics
Russian forces intensify armored vehicle assaults (Photo: Getty Images)
The Russian forces are likely to have begun using armored vehicles extensively on the front lines after a period of limited deployment. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are repelling attacks and inflicting significant losses.
These conclusions were drawn by experts from the Institute for the Study of War, according to a report published on April 15.
American analysts have reported that Russian forces appear to be increasing the use of armored vehicles across the entire frontline after largely shifting them to a support role at the end of 2024 and the beginning of this year, relying on infantry for offensives.
Recent examples of enemy use of armored vehicles during assaults
The ISW highlighted a statement from the Ukrainian Luhansk Group of Forces Spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Dmytro Zaporozhets on April 13. He reported that the Defense Forces repelled a reinforced Russian mechanized assault, numbering a company, in the area of Stupochky (south of Chasiv Yar) and Klishchiivka (southeast of Chasiv Yar).
He shared that on April 12, the enemy used 13 armored vehicles, several civilian cars, and an unspecified number of motorcycles for their attack.
Yesterday, a Ukrainian brigade operating in the Novopavlivka direction released footage showing how the Russian army carried out a reinforced mechanized assault using over 20 armored vehicles, including over 10 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and several tanks.
The brigade reported that the Russians attempted to advance with a wave of motorcycles ahead of the attacking armored vehicles to quickly reach the Defense Forces' positions.
Another Ukrainian brigade operating nearby reported on a Russian assault near Vilne Pole (northwest of Velyka Novosilka), where Ukrainian forces destroyed two tanks and 12 IFVs.
On April 14, the National Guard of Ukraine released footage showing the enemy conducting a mechanized assault with three tanks, 18 IFVs, an unspecified number of MT-LB armored vehicles, and 41 motorcycles in an undetermined area of the Zaporizhzhia direction.
The National Guard noted that the enemy's attack was repelled, with several IFVs destroyed.
Changes in Russian tactics
The ISW notes that since the end of autumn 2024, Russian forces have been intensifying mechanized attacks with the use of civilian vehicles, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) after limiting the use of armored vehicles across the entire frontline.
Experts suggest that this shift is likely due to fears of unjustified losses of armored vehicles during the summer and early autumn of 2024.
Thus, the Russian army primarily relied on small infantry groups for advancing in Ukraine and used armored vehicles to transport infantry to the frontline and provide fire support for infantry assaults from late autumn 2024 to the winter of 2024-2025.
"Russian forces continue to attack in small infantry groups along the frontline but may be recommitting armor to frontline assault operations as part of a general intensification along the entire frontline," the ISW reports.
Expert assessment on the return of 'armor' to the frontline
Earlier, analysts from the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Russia's defense-industrial base cannot produce new armored vehicles and artillery systems at a rate sufficient to compensate for the current loss rates in the medium and long term.
The ISW believes that Russian forces are likely using these alternative civilian transport vehicles in assault operations to reinforce mechanized assaults amid concerns over dwindling supplies of Soviet-era armored vehicles.
"The recent intensification in Russian armor usage suggests that the Russian military command may be growing less concerned about dwindling armored vehicle stores or at least may be willing to accept additional armored vehicle losses if Russian forces can secure additional gains before a possible future ceasefire," the Institute writes.
As reported yesterday, the Khortytsia Operational and Strategic Group of Forces mentioned that the Russian army once again attempted to advance near Vovchansk, but the Defense Forces destroyed an enemy armored group, and the clearing operation is ongoing.
Additionally, on April 13, we reported that Ukrainian defenders thwarted an enemy assault in the Pokrovsk direction with the help of Javelin missiles.
Moreover, in recent days, Ukrainian forces repelled an assault and burned the enemy's armored vehicles in the Kharkiv region.
