Effective Ukrainian partisan attacks are forcing the Kremlin to divert resources away from frontline operations to help secure rear areas, the American Institute for the Study of War ISW informs.
The partisans degrade Russia’s ability to defend against ongoing Ukrainian counteroffensives or conduct their own offensive operations.
“Poor Russian operational security has enabled Ukrainian partisan attacks. Russia’s increasing manpower shortages are likely degrading Russian forces’ ability to effectively secure Russian rear areas against partisan attacks and simultaneously defend against Ukrainian counteroffensives,” the message states.
ISW analysts conclude that the Kremlin still has not effectively countered Ukraine’s organized partisan movement and is unlikely to have the capabilities to do so.
Besides, the lack of human resources impairs the ability of Russian troops to effectively defend their rear areas from partisan attacks.
As of November 1, russian forces occupy approximately 85,300 square kilometers of mainland Ukrainian territory, excluding Crimea. Manpower shortages are inhibiting efforts to secure this area.
According to Ukrainian intelligence, the Russians have concentrated 40,000 troops - most of the conventional Armed Forces of the Russian Federation - in the occupied Kherson Region, where Russia occupies approximately 23,000 square kilometres, likely leading to the degradation of Russian security forces in Zaporizhzhya (a notable hotbed of partisan activity), Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Partisan attacks have persisted in Russian-occupied Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions even following Russia’s annexation of those regions on 30 September, indicating Russian forces continued inability to secure occupied territory.
Overall, the attacks by Ukrainian partisans divert Russian resources away from the front line to help secure the rear areas, impairing Russia's ability to defend itself against Ukrainian counteroffensives and conduct its own offensive operations.
