According to data from the American Institute for the study of war (ISW) on September 19, 2022, the counteroffensive by the Ukrainian military weakens the already low morale of Russian elite units and causes panic among influential Kremlin people.
Source: American Institute for the study of war
An urgent discussion on September 19 among Russian proteges regarding the need for the immediate Russian annexation of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions of Ukraine (a large part of the latter is not under Russian control – ed.) shows that the ongoing counteroffensive of Ukraine is causing panic among Russians, in particular, in decision-makers in the Kremlin.
“The legislatures of Russia’s proxies in occupied Ukraine, the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DNR and LNR), each called on their leadership to “immediately” hold a referendum on recognizing the DNR and LNR as Russian subjects.”
According to ISW, the Kremlin could believe that a partial annexation would encourage the recruitment of additional troops from Russia and newly annexed Ukrainian territories.
“Russian forces are desperately attempting to mobilize additional forces from all potential sources to backfill their heavily degraded and demoralized units but have proven unable to generate significant combat power, as ISW has repeatedly written.”
According to the experts of the Institute, the Russian leadership is unable to stop the Ukrainian forces from crossing the Oskil River in the Luhansk region.
“Recent Ukrainian counter-offensive successes are further reducing the already poor morale among Russian units that had been considered elite before February 24.”
See also: Ukrainian army courageously resist Russian soldiers, – Ukraine’s Defense Ministry
