AFU Smash Elite Units Of Russian Army

The units of three brigades are completely destroyed.

The recent advance of Ukrainian troops south of Bakhmut has led to the degradation of Russian defence units in the area, because during the liberation of Andriivka and Klishchiivka the AFU destroyed the combat effectiveness of elite units of the Russians

This is stated in the summary of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

It is noted that the Ukrainian fighters completely destroyed the units of the 72nd Motorised Rifle Brigade, the 31st Guards Brigade of the Airborne Forces and the 83rd Guards Brigade of the Airborne Forces while liberating Andriivka and Klishchiivka.

ISW adds that this statement is confirmed by Russian Vostok battalion commander Aleksandr Khodakovsky's claim that the commander of the 31st Airborne Forces Brigade was killed.

According to the Institute, the 72nd Motorised Brigade has probably become combat capable, although the exact level of casualties among the two Airborne Forces brigades remains unclear. These airborne units participated in a counterattack and attempted to repel the Ukrainian offensive around Bakhmut - similar to the way airborne units operate in western Zaporizhzhia region - and have likely suffered heavy losses.

"If recent Ukrainian offensives south of Bakhmut have resulted in destroying the combat capability of the 31st and 83rd Airborne Forces Brigades, the Russian command is likely to overturn elements of another relatively elite formation to support critical elements of the Russian defence south of Bakhmut," the ISW experts said.

It is also noted that as a result of Ukrainian counter-offensive operations in the Bakhmut direction, in addition to the 83rd and 31st brigades, parts of two airborne divisions and another airborne brigade are trapped, so the Russian command may decide on tactical redeployment to compensate for losses among these elite units.

Thus, lateral redeployments from other parts of Ukraine or significant tactical changes in other elements of the Airborne Troops in the Bakhmut area would mean that recent Ukrainian advances have resulted in significant Russian losses.

Liberation of Andriivka and Klishchiivka Near Bakhmut

On September 14, Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said that the Ukrainian military had liberated the village of Andriivka near Bakhmut in Donetsk region. However, the 3rd SABr denied the statement and called it incorrect.

During September 14, the Defence Forces were successfully advancing near Klishchiivka in Donetsk region. According to the General Staff, as of the morning of September 15, it became known that the AFU had liberated Andriivka.

On September 16, the US-based Institute for the Study of War noted that after the Ukrainian military liberated Andriivka, they continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and in the west of Zaporizhzhia Region. At the same time, the tactical situation south of Bakhmut deteriorated for the Russian army.

Already on September 17, the Ukrainian Defence Forces completely liberated Klishchiivka, which is south of Bakhmut in Donetsk region, but the enemy was not giving up attempts to seize the settlement.

In the morning report of the General Staff on September 18, it was stated that the Ukrainian military had repelled Russian attacks near Bila Hora in the Bakhmut direction, and continued storming operations in the area of Klishchiivka in Donetsk region, inflicting significant losses in manpower and hardware on the enemy and entrenching themselves on the seized positions.

Subsequently, the deputy commander of the 3rd separate assault brigade of the AFU, Major Rodion Kudryashov, noted that after the successful advance of the AFU, there is an opportunity to liberate Bakhmut from the occupants.

On September 18, the commander of the AFU Ground Forces, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrsky, visited the position of the brigades and battalions that liberated the settlements of Andriivka and Klishchiivka in the Bakhmut direction.