Recent weeks of fighting near Avdiivka have seen Russian troops potentially enhancing their tactical capabilities, executing a maneuver that caught Ukrainian forces off guard, reports the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in its latest analysis.
The ISW cites Ukrainian expert Kostiantyn Mashoviec, who on March 8, analyzed the battle dynamics around Avdiivka. According to Mashoviec, the Russians tactically regrouped, shifting the main focus of their offensive from the area north of the Avdiivka coke chemical plant to regions northeast of the city.
This movement eluded Ukrainian detection, highlighting a possible tactical adaptation by some Russian forces as noted in ISW's commentary.
Battle of Avdiivka: Notable Progress According to ISW
"A limited tactical surprise, where attacking forces initiate combat unexpectedly in terms of location, timing, or approach, marks significant progress. This is especially noteworthy as both Russian and Ukrainian forces maintain substantial surveillance across the frontline," ISW underscores.
However, analysts have not observed other significant instances of such surprises by Russian troops. Thus, they argue, the Avdiivka incident may not indicate a broader enhancement of Russian capabilities.
Tactical errors to date suggest that the Russian command "has not fully absorbed possible tactical adaptations nor effectively distributed them" among units in Ukraine.
