Russia has continued to deploy "elite" troops to weak areas of the frontline at the expense of future offensive operations, military analysts have said.
The 76 Guards Air Assault (VDV) is the second elite division to be sent to reinforce "critical sectors" in the Zaporizhzhia region, after Ukraine said it had recaptured Robotyne village, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
The increasing frequency of their deployment in both offensive and defensive operations has "likely degraded" Russia's elite infantry, said the US thinktank.
"The degradation of these forces will likely weaken Russia's ability to sustain complex defensive operations and almost certainly disrupt any Russian intent to resume offensive operations at scale, which have predominantly relied on relatively elite infantry that Russia now lacks," the ISW said.
Relatively elite units were previously redeployed from the Kherson region to defend against Ukraine's counteroffensive in Bakhmut, in another example of Russia's reliance on certain experienced soldiers.
https://news.sky.com/story/ukraine-russia-war-latest-news-putin-zelenskyy-peace-talks-nato-live-updates-12541713
two reasons I suppose ..... the counter offenmsive ...... and the absence of Wagners ....big thanks to Shoigu ,Gerasimov and putin for that !
