Thread by @TheStudyofWar

NEW: ISW is now prepared to assess that Ukrainian forces have broken through Russian field fortifications west of #Verbove in western #Zaporizhia Oblast. 🧵(1/7)

Latest campaign assessment: isw.pub/UkrWar092323

2/ These fortifications are not the final defensive line in Russia’s defense in depth in western Zaporizhia, but rather a specific series of the best-prepared field fortifications arrayed as part of a near-contiguous belt about 1.7-3.5 km west of #Verbove.

https://twitter.com/TheStudyofWar/status/1705258281583681841?s=20

3/ Ukrainian forces have not overcome all of the prepared Russian defensive positions near #Verbove, however, and Ukrainian forces’ rate of advance near their breakthrough remains unclear.

4/ Russian forces likely still control segments of the long trench line of Russian fighting positions between #Robotyne (10km south of Orikhiv) and Verbove, especially near the tactical high ground to the south.

5/ Russian forces have reportedly established prepared fighting positions in almost every tree line that Ukrainian infantry are slowly and systematically fighting through.

6/ Russian forces have more field fortifications beyond #Verbove; there are more anti-vehicle trenches and fighting positions north of Ocheretuvate (26km SE of Orikhiv), for example. It is unclear the extent to which those positions are manned, however. isw.pub/UkrWar092323

7/ ISW continues to assess that #Russia does not have sufficient forces deployed to this sector to completely man its defenses in depth & that Ukrainian forces should be able to operate through Russian field fortifications more rapidly if they are not properly manned.