Ukrainian Armed Forces have confirmed territorial advances near Robotyne - ISW
Ukrainian troops continued offensive operations in the west of Zaporizhzhia region on November 16 and confirmed territorial advances near Robotyne on November 15.
This is stated in the analytical report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Censor.NET informs with reference to Ukrainska Pravda.
A Russian "war correspondent" published a geolocated video from 15 November showing Russian forces striking Ukrainian positions west of Robotyne, indicating a slight advance by Ukrainian forces.
In addition, Russian sources claimed that Ukrainian forces unsuccessfully attempted to advance in the areas of Kopani (5 km northwest of Robotyne), Rivne (9 km west of Robotyne), Novoprokopivka (south of Robotyne), Verbove (8 km east of Robotyne), as well as in the direction of Novofedorivka (14 km northeast of Robotyne).
At the same time, Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets assessed that Ukrainian forces have likely made some gains in the direction of Novopokrovka (12 km northeast of Robotyne), and they are separated by only one forest belt from the settlement defended by the Russian 108th Guards Airborne Assault Regiment of the 7th Guards Air Assault Division.
Mashovets added that a few days ago, Ukrainian forces appeared to have somewhat pushed back units of the Russian 136th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade (58th Combined Arms Army, Southern Military District) in the Kopan direction and advanced closer to Nesterianka (10 km northwest of Robotyne).
Russian forces launched an assault on Ukrainian positions near Robotyne on November 16 but made no confirmed territorial gains. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Ukrainian forces repelled Russian attacks near Robotyne and west of Verbove (8 km east of Robotyne).
At the same time, Mashovets said that units of the Russian 247th Guards Regiment (7th Guards Airborne Division) had apparently lost control of the heights northwest of Verbove, which complicates the Russian defense of the northwestern outskirts of the settlement.
The observer noted that units of the Russian 503rd Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment (19th Motorized Division, 58th Army Corps), 104th Regiment and 234th Airborne Regiment (both part of the 76th Guards Airborne Division) are fighting intensely on the Nesterianka-Kopani line.
Mashovets also claimed that the command of the Russian 19th Motorized Division and the 76th Guards Airborne Division had strict orders to hold the Nesterianka-Kopani line "under any circumstances." "But ISW cannot verify this claim," analysts say.
The review also notes that Russian troops continued offensive operations near Bakhmut on November 16, but did not achieve confirmed successes.
According to the experts, the offensive operations of the Defence Forces south of Bakhmut have not been confirmed as successful either. The report also notes that Russian troops have made minor advances north of the Avdiivka Coke Plant, northwest of Avdiivka
