ISW: Russia deploys special forces brigade to Donetsk

The Russian command has completed the deployment to the temporarily occupied areas of the Donetsk Region of three newly-formed regiments as part of the 116th separate brigade of the Rosgvardia.

This creates a separate military force and establishes permanent control over the captured territories of Ukraine, Caliber.Az reports, citing a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets confirmed the deployment by the Russian command of the 116th Special Forces Brigade in the town of Chistyakovo, 70 kilometres east of Donetsk.

Russian local media reported that in early September 2023, the Rosgvardia began forming the 116th Special Forces Brigade to serve in the temporarily occupied areas of the Donetsk Region. At the end of October, ISW experts noticed that this brigade received a Russian T-80BV tank, which Wagner Group fighters used during the armed uprising in June 2023.

ISW is convinced that the short timelines and locations of the new Rosgvardia regiments indicate that the Kremlin is actively trying to use these forces to strengthen Russian control over the occupied rear areas.

Mashovets also said that the Rosgvardia had probably transferred up to 6,000 servicemen from Russia to temporarily occupied Ukraine as part of the deployment of the 116th special-purpose brigade. Thus, the personnel of the Rosgvardia in the occupied territories of Ukraine has been increased to 34,300 servicemen.

The ISW report reads that although the Institute for the Study of War is unable to independently verify this information, these facts confirm recent attempts by the Russian Federation to legalise the Rosgvardia's access to volunteer recruitment, the Kremlin's permission to transfer heavy military equipment to the Rosgvardia and the basing of the 116th Special Forces Brigade in the occupied Donetsk region.

"Russia is attempting to expand Rosgvardia forces to create a separate military occupation force. Moscow is likely attempting to attract and deploy a military occupation force to further impede Ukraine's counteroffensive efforts, establish permanent control over occupied territories, and suppress guerrilla activity without entrenching forward troops for an indefinite period of occupation," the ISW report said.