Russian army seizes positions in Zaporizhzhya, which were repulsed by Ukrainian army during counteroffensive – ISW
Russian occupants have recently advanced in the western Zaporizhzhia region and retook positions that Ukrainian troops captured during a counteroffensive in the summer of 2023.
This was reported by the Institute for the Study of War.
It is noted that Russia seized this territory, probably because Ukrainian defenders retreated to more defensible positions near Robotyno for the winter.
“Geolocation footage released on December 14 and 27 shows that Russian troops have recently advanced west of Verbove (9 km east of Robotyno),” the statement said.
ISW suggests that Ukraine’s capture of the adjacent positions in August 2023 was tactically significant, as it could have allowed Ukrainian forces to begin operating past the densest Russian minefields and further Russian defensive layers. However, analysts say that these positions are particularly important for Russian forces.
“Russia’s recent successes in the western Zaporizhzhia region confirm ISW’s assessment that the current positional war in Ukraine is not a stable stalemate, as the current balance could shift in either direction due to decisions made in the West or Russia, and Russia’s limited gains could become significant, especially if the West stops military aid to Ukraine,” the analysts added.
