ISW: No visual evidence of noticeable Russian forces advances near Ukrainian bridgehead at Krynky
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian troops allegedly captured Krynky on the left bank of Kherson region, however, visual data from open sources, as well as Ukrainian and Russian reports indicate that the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to maintain a limited bridgehead in this zone, according to an October 20 Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report.
"Shoigu claimed during his briefing with Putin that Russian forces cleared Krynky, although Putin claimed that Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) and 'Dnepr' Grouping of Forces Commander Colonel General Mikhail Teplinsky told him that a handful of Ukrainian personnel remained in the settlement," the ISW said on its website.
It is indicated that the head of the Russian Ministry of Defense refuted Teplinsky's statement and presented Russian attempts to eliminate the bridgehead as a successfully completed operation, and also praised unspecified airborne units and the 810th Marine Infantry Brigade for their role in the operation, which is typical praise from the Kremlin after Russia captured a tactical target.
ISW says that at the time of publication, there had been no visual evidence of recent noticeable Russian troop advances in or near the limited Ukrainian bridgehead at Krynky.
At the same time, it is indicated that the Kremlin probably prematurely announced the alleged capture of Krynky in order to enhance the desired information effect in anticipation of the presidential elections in March 2024.
"The Kremlin may increasingly claim battlefield victories in Ukraine without full confidence in Russian tactical and operational success in order to support information efforts that both glorify Putin and demoralize Ukraine, although such growing rhetorical confidence may create expectations in the Russian information space that the Russian military will not be able to justify it," ISW said.
At the same time, geolocation footage published on February 20 shows that Russian forces have recently advanced to the eastern outskirts of Lastochkine (Donetsk region), northwest of Avdiivka.
