Russia's military is redeploying its elite airborne (VDV) divisions from the southern front of Ukraine to boost its offensive in the east where Moscow's momentum is continuing, it has been reported.
Pro-Kremlin and Ukrainian sources said Russia's 76th and 7th airborne (VDV) divisions deployed to the Robotyne area in the Zaporizhzhia region in the summer of 2023 to handle Kyiv's counteroffensive have been sent to other parts of the front.
However, there is disagreement on where exactly the Russian divisions are being sent. Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets said Wednesday at least one battalion of Russia's 76th VDV Division from the Orikhiv direction in the Zaporizhzhia region to either the Luhansk front line or the Kramatorsk direction, both in the east.
But a pro-Russian Telegram channel said elements of the 76th VDV divisions had been sent to relieve the 104th VDV Division near the Ukrainian tactical bridgehead in Krynky, in the Kherson region.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said Wednesday there was no observed confirmation of these redeployments though these reports were "significant" and "warrant closer study in the coming days."
The think tank assessed that Moscow may want to use the redeployments to support its offensive in the Donetsk region and to capitalize on Kyiv's vulnerability before it receives significant quantities of military aid just passed by the U.S. Congress.
Russian forces are trying to penetrate northwest of Avdiivka, which they captured in February, as they try to seize the strategically significant town of Chasiv Yar, which will be a steppingstone to other major cities in the Donetsk region.
The ISW said Russia redeploying units to the east would allow its forces "to intensify offensive operations and place Ukrainian forces under increasing pressure."
Russia's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that it would step up weapons production to deliver arms to the eastern front in Ukraine faster.
After meeting top military leaders Wednesday, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the aim was "to increase the volume and quality of weapons and military equipment supplied to the troops, primarily weapons."
Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment.
Ukraine had predicted that its forces would face a tough period, ahead of an anticipated offensive by Moscow at the end of May or the beginning of June as they await delivery of a tranche of American military aid.
Russian daily personnel losses also remain stubbornly high according to Kyiv, which said on Thursday that over the previous day, Moscow's forces had suffered 1,030 casualties, the sixth day in a row that its total of dead and injured had reached four digits.
It takes the total amount of Russian personnel losses over the war to 470,870, according to Kyiv.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Brendan Cole is a Newsweek Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. His focus is Russia and Ukraine, in particular ... Read more
