Stalemate on the front. The Russians are defending at a key section
Ukrainian forces moved forward on Friday in the west of the Zaporozhye region in southern Ukraine, but Russian troops still hold defense on a key sector of the front in the vicinity of the city of Orikhiv - reported by the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the latest report.
7:41 AM EDT, October 7, 2023
ISW reports that geolocation recordings indicate that Ukrainian soldiers have moved to the tree line between the towns of Robotyne and Verbove, about 3.72 miles to the southeast of Robotyne.
The institute also reported, citing a representative of the eastern group of Ukrainian troops, that the Ukrainian military is preparing for offensive operations in the fall and winter of this year.
As ISW notes, this confirms its forecasts that weather will not prevent either side of the conflict from conducting offensive operations in the winter of 2023-24, as long as they are properly supplied, and the pace of the Ukrainian offensive largely depends on weapons and ammunition supplies from the West.
Intense battles are ongoing. The Russians are relocating units
ISW also emphasizes that Russian forces have most likely conducted regiment rotations south of Orichiwa, moving a significant part of the 42nd motorized rifle division and two airborne divisions, which proves, that they are capable of maintaining defense on key front-lines.
The Institute writes - citing satellite images published by a Ukrainian reserve officer - that it is possible that Russian forces are expanding military training infrastructure in the occupied eastern Ukraine, to increase the training and mobilization capabilities of Russian troops.
