The report notes that this is not a new concept for the Russian army, as similar units operated during the Soviet intervention in Afghanistan.
According to Russian sources, air assault brigades as part of ground formations will be able to carry out landings in the near rear of Ukraine without parachutes, presumably by landing helicopters for the rapid deployment of personnel, as was the case during the initial battles for Gostomel airport near Kiev on February 24, 2022 .
It is noted that such a unit is already operating in the Zaporozhye direction – the 49th separate air assault brigade (ASB) as part of the 58th combined arms army (Southern Military District).
DSBs exist in the modern Russian army as part of the Airborne Forces (VDV), so Russian ground forces may well try to create these formations.
ISW has previously observed cases of the formation of reconnaissance and assault brigades as part of combined arms formations and assessed that the creation of such specialized formations is intended to respond to specific tactical challenges that Russian troops currently face in Ukraine.
“However, the deployment of air assault brigades in isolation from the wider airborne force structure will likely mean that these specialized brigades will be used as yet another means to carry out grueling frontal infantry-led attacks on Ukrainian fortified positions in the short term,” it said. report.
Unfair benefits
In addition, the report notes, a well-known Russian military blogger complained about unfair treatment of units staffed by prisoners, in contrast to regular Russian contract soldiers. Military personnel of the Russian Storm-Z units are not subject to Russian military legislation and therefore are not entitled to benefits similar to contract soldiers.
According to the blogger, Storm-Z fighters receive only 50 thousand to 300 thousand rubles in compensation for injuries, compared to 3 million rubles that contract soldiers receive. He complained that Storm-Z fighters do not receive any social benefits, since the Russian Ministry of Defense considers the only reward these servicemen deserve to be a presidential pardon for convicted conscripts.
“A similar problem is faced by prison recruits in various private military companies and volunteer battalions. The Russian Ministry of Defense is probably interested in recruiting from prisons in order to minimize the costs associated with the payment of social benefits to military personnel,” the ISW report says.
Situation at the front
The Ukrainian military recorded 626 cases of Russian use of ammunition filled with toxic chemicals. Of these, only in January of this year – 51 cases.
Due to the activity of Ukrainian drones, Russia is shooting down its own UAVs on the left bank of the Dnieper.
Meanwhile, on the left bank of the Kherson region, the intensity of Russian assaults is growing again. The enemy is transferring more well-trained units to the area.
Read urgent and important messages about Russia’s war against Ukraine on the channel RBC-Ukraine on Telegram.
2024-01-14 02:58:22
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