AFU defeated elite units of Russians during offensive near Bakhmut

During a successful offensive south of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, the Ukrainian Armed Forces defeated the occupiers' elite units.

This is reported with reference to the ISW report.

It is reported that Ukrainian forces completely destroyed the units of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (3rd Army Corps), the 31st Guards VDV Brigade, and the 83rd Guards VDV Brigade during the liberation of Andriivka and Klishchiivka.

“Russian “Vostok” Battalion commander Alexander Khodakovsky’s claim that the 31st VDV Brigade commander has been killed supports this statement.. he 72nd Motorized Brigade has likely been rendered combat ineffective, although the exact level of losses among the two VDV brigades remains unclear,” the report says.

These airborne units were involved in counterattacks and attempts to repel the Ukrainian offensive in the Bakhmut area and likely suffered heavy losses. If the recent Ukrainian offensive south of Bakhmut has resulted in the destruction of the 31st and 83rd airborne brigades, the Russian command will likely redeploy elements of another relatively elite formation to support critical elements of the Russian defense south of Bakhmut.

Author – Anastasiya Glotova, 19/09/2023