Preparations for Offensive Operations

The raid on Belgorod had the expected effect. Politically it led to a lot of anger. The most basic function of the state is to protect borders. So having troops cross them, control terrain, and then fade back is not good for Russia.

The truth is that Russia has terrible choices. And now it’s made one that was expected. They are transferring experienced troops from the combat zone to the border. This is, according to Volymedia, and honestly, not a shock:

Soldiers are taken from the Luhansk region for the defense of Belgorod, the incident in Lisichansk and other news on May 26

From the night of May 24–25, units of the RF Armed Forces began to be removed from the Lugansk region and sent to the territory of the Belgorod region. Moreover, according to information from army sources, the most combat-ready units were withdrawn, which were pulled out from the Krasnolimansky direction. This, apparently, refers to units of the 76th Airborne Division and several motorized rifle brigades that gained extensive combat experience during the invasion of Ukraine.

“Moscow demands to ensure the security of the border area. For this task, the conscripts-border guards and mobiki-kuzmichi, who are in the Belgorod region, are not suitable. Parts with combat experience are needed. Otherwise, it is impossible to resist Ukrainian attacks. Therefore, it was decided to withdraw combat-ready units from the front line, replacing them with unfired ones from the reserves, ”explains an officer of the…