Ukrainian armored vehicles are operating behind the last line of the Russian defensive device, which Ukrainian forces are currently breaking through in the western Zaporizhzhia region, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes in its latest assessment, adding that it cannot yet confirm that Kyiv troops have completely broken through this layer of the enemy’s defense.

Geolocation images released on Thursday show that Ukrainian armored vehicles are advancing south of Russian anti-tank ditches and “dragon’s teeth” obstacles, which are part of the triple layer of defenses, and are engaged in limited fighting directly west of Vervovoy (18 km southeast from Orichov). , it is not clear whether Ukrainian forces remained in these positions.

This is the first recorded case of Ukrainian forces using armored vehicles outside the three-tiered Russian defense. The presence of Ukrainian armored vehicles behind the last line of the current Russian defense device indicates that the Ukrainians have strengthened their breach through the first two lines of this layer well enough to allow the vehicles to pass through this breach.

Important signs of the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive

Ukrainian forces likely suppressed Russian artillery and other anti-tank systems in the area long enough to advance their vehicles.

The ability of the Ukrainians to bring armored vehicles up to the strongest Russian defenses and to operate these vehicles near pre-prepared Russian defensive positions are important signs of the progress of the Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Additional geolocation images released on Wednesday and Thursday show that Ukrainian forces have also advanced west and southwest of Verbovoy.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported Thursday that Ukrainian forces penetrated the main Russian defense line in the western Zaporozhye region using armored vehicles, citing an unnamed Ukrainian officer who fought in the area. The WSJ also said that Ukrainian forces had advanced to the edge of Novoprokopivka (16 km south of Orihiv), although ISW had not seen visual confirmation of this information until Thursday evening, when the Institute published its latest assessment.

Russian forces now defending themselves in the western Zaporozhye region have been unable to stop Ukrainian forces from a slow but steady advance since mid-August.

The Russians introduced elite troops for nothing

ISW has consistently observed that Ukrainian forces are making slow but steady advances in western Zaporizhia, despite Russian military redeployment of relatively elite units to bolster Russian defensive operations in western Zaporizhia.

In mid-August, the Russian army redeployed units of the 7th Airborne Forces (Airborne Forces) Division and the 76th Airborne Division to the Robotyne region to repel Ukrainian attacks and possibly assist the activities of units of the 22nd and 45th Separate Special Forces Brigades, which counterattacked against Ukrainian offensives in the previous stages of Ukrainian offensive operations.

Geolocation images released on Wednesday and Thursday show elements of the 22nd Special Forces Brigade operating west of Verbovoy (18 km southeast of Orichov), suggesting that the Russian command has tactically shifted units of the 22nd Special Forces Brigade to support elements of the Airborne Forces, which were already seen in defense in the region.

A Ukrainian soldier fighting in southern Ukraine told the WSJ in an article published Thursday that the Russian troops defending the front lines are of “poor quality” but that the counterattacking assault troops are “stronger.”

The Ukrainian soldier’s statements are consistent with ISW’s observations that the relatively elite Russian Special Forces and Airborne Forces are the main elements of the counterattack in the western Zaporizhzhya region.