Russia redeploys elite airborne units south after Ukraine counteroffensive

"OSINT analyst reported that Russian military command recently moved units of the 68th Army Corps from the outskirts of Pokrovsk and Dobropillia in Donetsk Oblast to the Huliaipole sector, which spans parts of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhya oblasts.

The relocation of the 68th Army Corps to southern Ukraine likely reflects Russia’s response to Ukrainian counterattacks launched in late January.
Russian command had redeployed units of the Pacific Fleet’s 40th Naval Infantry Brigade from the Dobropillia area to the Huliaipole sector, while units of the 55th Naval Infantry Division were moved to the Polohy district south of Huliaipole.
Russia has previously deployed elite naval infantry formations to priority sectors in response to Ukrainian counteroffensives, including in the Kursk sector in August 2024 and near Dobropillia in Sept. 2025.
ISW analysts also noted that Russia redeployed units of the 76th Airborne Division toward the Pokrovsk sector earlier, in November 2025, likely in response to a slowdown in the pace of Russia’s offensive in what was then considered a priority sector."

msn