Russia throws vulnerable Storm-Z infantry into frontal infantry attacks near Avdiivka – ISW

The Russians have been using Storm-Z infantry units in their attacks near the city of Avdiivka, which are losing 40 to 70% of their personnel in a matter of days.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Analysts point out that Russian forces are persisting in using Storm-Z assault units, consisting mainly of prisoner recruits, in head-on attacks led by infantry.

Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun, spokesman for the Tavriia Grouping of Ukrainian Forces, said on 30 October that the Russian army was preparing to conduct "meat assaults" (frontal infantry attacks – ed.) near Avdiivka and was training Storm-Z units for future assaults without equipment and vehicles.

A Russian military blogger, supposedly based on the Avdiivka front, claimed that "meat assaults" are when Russian infantry charges without artillery support.

He claimed that when two Russian regiments conduct "meat assaults" side by side, the junction between the areas of responsibility of both regiments remains unprotected and vulnerable to Ukrainian counterattacks.

Another Russian military blogger claimed that Storm-Z assault units on the Avdiivka front and the southern flank of the city of Bakhmut were often wiped out within days of active operations, losing an average of 40 to 70% of their personnel.

He criticised the poor training of Russian Storm-Z units and the unwillingness of officers to consider the suggestions of Storm-Z commanders when assigning them combat missions.

A Russian military blogger claimed that Storm-Z units often enter combat before conducting reconnaissance or establishing communication with neighbouring units and usually try to evacuate their wounded without artillery cover, leading to even greater losses.

Both military bloggers noted insufficient artillery support for Russian attacks and counterattacks.

One of them claimed that these factors led to the Storm-Z units turning into "trash" before achieving any major results.

"ISW has frequently reported on the ineffectiveness of ‘Storm-Z’ units," the analysts added.

To quote the ISW’s Key Takeaways on 30 October:

• Russian officials announced that Russian law enforcement suppressed antisemitic riots in Makhachkala, Republic of Dagestan on 30 October. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to the October 29 antisemitic demonstrations in Dagestan by accusing Ukraine of trying to "instigate pogroms in Russia" under Western guidance.
• A minority of Russian officials directly condemned rioters and regional authorities for ignoring antisemitic attitudes in Dagestan.
• The 29 October riots in Dagestan highlight the growing radicalisation and factionalism of Russian society resulting from the hyper-nationalist ideologies that the war in Ukraine has empowered.
• Unidentified Russian soldiers reportedly murdered a Ukrainian family in occupied Volnovakha, Donetsk Oblast, further highlighting a threatening environment of violence that is pervasive throughout occupied areas of Ukraine. Several Russian commentators exploited the circumstances of the tragedy in Volnovakha to accuse Ukraine of trying to stoke interethnic tensions within the Russian information space.
• Ukrainian forces made confirmed advances near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhia Oblast on 30 October.
• Russian forces continue to use "Storm-Z" assault units predominantly made up of prisoner recruits in highly attritional infantry-led frontal assaults.
• Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu highlighted the allegedly cooperative nature of the Russian-Chinese relationship at the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum on 30 October.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, near Avdiivka, west and southwest of Donetsk City, in the western Donetsk-eastern Zaporizhia Oblast border area, and in western Zaporizhia Oblast on 30 October and advanced in some areas.

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