The Russians retreat from Zaporozhzhia due to the impossibility of protecting important objects – ISW
The movement of Russian troops in the Zaporizhzhia region may indicate that Russian forces cannot protect critically important areas against the backdrop of Ukraine’s attacks on the places of concentration of Russian forces and logistics.
The Ukrainian General Staff reported on December 1 that Russian troops have withdrawn or are currently withdrawing personnel from the towns of Pology, Mykhailivka and Inzhenerny in the Zaporizhzhia region.
The General Staff also reported that the Russian occupation authorities are conducting a population census in Burchak to prepare for future measures regarding the so-called evacuation.
The General Staff reported that in the previous days, Ukrainian troops struck the places of concentration of Russian forces in Mirny, Tokmak, Inzhenerny, Pology, Yasny and Kinsky Rozdory in the Zaporizhzhia region.
– Russian forces may be withdrawing personnel from positions closer to the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region in order to reduce the impact of intensified Ukrainian strikes on the concentration of Russian manpower and equipment, – the American Institute for the Study of War said in a statement.
The potential withdrawal of troops from Pologiv is particularly noteworthy because the city is located at a critical crossroads, and without control of this crossroads, it will likely be more difficult for Russian forces to defend Tokmak from possible Ukrainian operations. Withdrawing from a critical position may indicate that Russian forces cannot protect the entire front line in the Zaporizhzhia region and are determining priority locations for the concentration of forces.
– However, it is no less likely that the Russian army will reorient its grouping in the Zaporizhzhia region and may transfer troops back to these settlements, – analysts note.
Russian forces maintain reserves in Crimea to support defense operations in Zaporizhzhia region and on the east bank of the Dnipro in Kherson region.
