The extra cover helps camouflage Russian defensive positions and makes defensive mine fields harder to clear. The predominately arable land in the combat zone has now been left fallow for 18 months, with the return of weeds and shrubs accelerating under the warm, damp summer conditions. Undergrowth regrowing across the battlefields of southern Ukraine is likely one factor contributing to the generally slow progress of combat in the area. An exception to this was the 3rd Army Corps created in summer 2022, which has generally performed poorly. Since its invasion of Ukraine, Russia has mainly deployed mobilised reservists to back-fill established formations, or as part of territorial defence infantry regiments: it has rarely established new, all-arms organisations such as combined arms armies which are designed to be a self-sufficient force. These include the 25th Combined Arms Army. Over the last two months, Russia has likely started forming up major new formations to add depth to its ground forces. Elements of the 5th Combined Army are likely to be under particular pressure, and probably also feel that they are long overdue for a rotation out of the front-line. 58 CAA is highly likely struggling with battle fatigue and attrition in forward deployed regiments which have been in intense combat for over eight weeks.įurther east, south of Velyka Novosilka, the defending Russian force is drawn from both the Eastern and Southern military districts, likely creating problems of co-ordination. South of Orikhiv, the focus of Ukrainian assaults have been against Russia’s 58th Combined Arms Army (58 CAA). In southern Ukraine, intense fighting continues to be focused in two sectors. While conscripts are not currently deployed in Ukraine, extra draftees free-up professional and mobilised soldiers from other duties inside Russia. In mid-July 2023, the State Duma increased the maximum age of liability for conscription from 27 to 30, while retaining the current lower limit at 18. The Russian authorities are prioritizing amending legislation to allow more men to be rapidly drafted into the military. The illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is continuing.ĭefence Intelligence can confirm the following updates on Ukraine from the week commencing 31 July 2023.
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