The offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the west of Zaporizhzhia Oblast likely forced the Russian command to prioritize Russian defenses there and redeploy elite formations from Russian defenses near Bakhmut.

This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War.

"On September 16, the North Ossetian volunteer battalions "Storm Ossetia" and "Alania", operating in the west of the Zaporozhye region, published a photo showing a small detachment of the Russian 83rd Separate Guards Airborne Assault Brigade in Nesteryanka in the west of the Zaporozhye region. At the end of June, units of the 83rd Brigade were deployed to defend against counteroffensive operations by Ukrainian troops in the Klishchiivka area, and at the end of August they were spotted in battle in the area," analysts said.

As early as September 11, units of the 83rd Brigade were operating in the Bakhmut area, although elements of the brigade may have been separated in two different areas of the front.

"In recent weeks, Klishchiivka has been a hotbed of fighting in the Bakhmut area, and the redeployment of any elements of the 83rd Airborne Brigade amid the offensive of Ukrainian troops near Klishchiivka indicates deep concern about Ukraine's advance in western Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the priority of Russian defense," the analysts said in a statement.

"Russian forces have so far been reluctant to send these relatively elite formations to assist in defensive efforts in western Zaporizhia Oblast, and Ukrainian operations around Bakhmut appear to continue to prevent Russian command from doing so on a sufficient scale," analysts note.

Earlier it became known that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are making serious progress in Klishchiivka, where they inflicted heavy losses on the Russian occupiers.

Today, September 17, in the morning report, the General Staff reported that the Defense Forces were successful in the Klishchiivka area of the Donetsk region, pushing the enemy out of their positions.