Russia redeploys marines from Sumy and Kherson to fight in Donetsk, ISW says
Illustrative photo: Russia is transferring marines from Sumy and Kherson regions to fight in Donetsk region (GettyImages)
Russia is regrouping its forces to prepare for offensive operations on several sections of the front line. However, it lacks the forces and resources necessary to conduct these operations simultaneously, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
According to the ISW, the Russian military command is regrouping its forces to conduct several operational-level operations on the front line in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Kostiantynivka, Pokrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia directions. These actions are part of Russia's broader strategic plan for 2025.
“Many of these Russian efforts are not mutually supportive in that forces assigned to one sector of the front are not conducting offensive operations in a way that supports the offensive operations of another sector,” the ISW emphasizes.
In August this year, the Russian military command began redeploying some units from secondary sections of the front, in particular from the Sumy and Kherson regions, to eastern Ukraine. The main focus is on the southern Donetsk and Huliaipole directions. They are also forming operational reserves.
Analysts note that Moscow's decision to transfer forces from the Lyman direction to the reserve in the Kherson region, and from the Kherson direction to the reserve in the Lyman direction, seems unusual. This is particularly surprising given that the Russians are currently focusing on offensive operations in the Donetsk region, particularly in the areas between Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk.
Russia recently deployed airborne troops and relatively elite marine units to this area. Some of them have already seen combat. In particular, units of the 177th Marine Regiment (Caspian Flotilla) and the 40th and 155th Marine Brigades (Pacific Fleet) entered into combat near Poltavka after being redeployed from the northern Sumy region, while the 336th Marine Brigade (Baltic Fleet) is fighting near Novy Shakhov after being transferred from the Novopavlivka direction.
The Russian command is also keeping units of the 61st Marine Brigade (Northern Fleet) in reserve in the rear of the Dobropillia area after transferring them from the Kherson region. However, some units of this brigade continue to operate in the Kherson direction, indicating that they are spread across the entire front.
Counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
On September 18, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian defenders were conducting a counteroffensive near Dobropillia and in the Pokrovsk area.
He noted that in this way, the Armed Forces of Ukraine managed to thwart the Russian offensive, which they had been counting on after a failed attempt to attack in the Sumy region.
