The criminal army of the Russian Federation transferred to the occupied territories of the Donetsk region three recently created regiments as part of the 116th separate brigade of Russia's National Guard to strengthen control over the occupied territories.
The Russian army is trying to strengthen control over the occupied territories
According to analysts from the Institute for the Study of War regarding Ukrainian military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets, the 116th separate Brigade of Russia’s National Guard was stationed in Chystiakove, 70 km east of Donetsk.
In particular, the newly created regiments of the 116th Brigade are located in the following:
The 900th Special Forces Regiment is stationed in the village of Melekine (22 km southwest of Mariupol);
The 901st Special Forces Regiment was stationed in the city of Snizhne (80 km east of Donetsk);
The 902nd Special Forces Regiment is located seven kilometres north of Chystiakove.
Mashovets notes that the permanent assignment of the Brigade is to perform functions to stabilize the situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine.
It is noted that the formation of the new Brigade began in September of this year.
Already in October, analysts learned that the Brigade received the first T-80BV tank, which was used by the mercenaries of the "Wagner Group" during the attempted mutiny of their now-deceased leader, Yevgeni Prigozhin.
What is known about the goals of Russia's National Guard Special units in the occupied territories
The ISW noted that the short-term transfer of units indicates the Kremlin's desire to strengthen control over the occupied territories.
A military analyst suggested that the command of Russia's National Guard probably transferred up to 6,000 soldiers to the occupied Ukrainian territories as part of the deployment of the 116th Special Brigade.
Currently, the personnel of Russia's National Guard in the occupied territories of Ukraine includes up to 34,300 military personnel.
In addition, ISW analysts conclude that the Kremlin's recent attempts to allow the Rosguard to recruit volunteers, as well as the permission to transfer heavy military equipment to the Rosguard units, indicate the desire of the Kremlin regime to create a separate military force in the occupied territories.
Russia is trying to expand the forces of the Russian Guard to create a separate military occupation force. Moscow is likely trying to attract and deploy military occupation forces to further impede Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts, establish permanent control over occupied territories, and suppress guerrilla activity without committing front-line troops to an indefinite period of occupation, the ISW report said.
