Ukrainian forces push Russian forces from Robotyne's western outskirts – ISW

Ukrainska Pravda — Sunday, 22 October 2023, 04:02

UKRAINIAN MILITARY. PHOTO: GENERAL STAFF OF THE UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW), citing Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets, has said that Ukrainian forces are pushing Russian forces from Robotyne’s western outskirts (10 km south of Orikhiv).

Source: ISW

Details: Ukrainian troops continued their counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 21 October. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops had continued offensive operations on the Melitopol (west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast) and Bakhmut fronts.

Russian military bloggers also claimed that Ukrainian troops had continued their offensive on the Robotyne-Kopani and Robotyne-Novoprokopivka lines.

A well-known Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces have advanced west of Novofedorivka (21km southeast of Orikhiv) and are six kilometres away from the settlement.

Mashovets also said that the elements of the Russian 247th Airborne (VDV) Regiment (7th VDV Division) retreated several hundred metres towards Novofedorivka.

The Russian Defence Ministry said that Russian troops repelled three Ukrainian attacks near Verbove (10 km east of Robotyne).

Another well-known Russian military blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces conducted mechanised assaults along the Robotyne-Novoprokopivka line (up to 2 km south of Robotyne) with the help of up to 10 tanks and armoured combat vehicles.

Russian troops carried out ground attacks in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 21 October, but did not make a single confirmed offensive. The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked near Robotyne.

On 21 October, Mashovets said that Russian troops had counterattacked west of Verbove and advanced 200 metres in the neighbouring forest zone. Mashovets added that units of the Russian 108th VDV Regiment (7th VDV Division) were advancing near Novopokrovka (16 km southeast of Orikhiv) towards Mala Tokmachka (9 km southeast of Orikhiv).

Russian sources claimed that fighting continues along the Robotyne-Kopani line (up to 5 km northwest of Robotyne). Mashovets suggested that the Russian 104th VDV Regiment (76th VDV Division) might be too depleted to prevent the advance of Ukrainians towards Novoprokopivka.

To quote ISW’s Takeaways for 21 October:

In the past several days, Ukrainian forces have likely repelled another intensified Russian offensive effort towards Avdiivka and inflicted further heavy personnel and equipment losses on Russian troops in the area.
Russian forces are struggling to interdict Ukrainian efforts to supply and reinforce newly captured positions on the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast.
Ukrainian forces continued counteroffensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 21 October.
Russian forces may be diversifying the mix of missiles, guided bombs, and drones used in strikes on Ukrainian rear areas, likely in an attempt to find gaps in Ukrainian air defences ahead of further strikes over the winter.
Yevgeny Stupin, disgraced Moscow City Duma Deputy, formally requested on 20 October that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) investigate Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin for "divulging state secrets."
Russian forces continued offensive operations along the Kupiansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, southwest of Donetsk City, in the Donetsk-Zaporizhzhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and advanced in various sectors of the front.
The Russian federal government is reportedly taking steps to rectify some discrepancies in the treatment of personnel in irregular and regular formations.

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