ISW believes that tactical situation worsened for russian troops

The Ukrainian military liberated Andriyivka and continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and in the west of the Zaporizhzhia Region, while the tactical situation south of Bakhmut worsened for the russian troops.

This is stated in the text of another analytical note from specialists of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) with reference to the russian military.

The Ukrainian General Staff and other Ukrainian officials reported that Ukrainian forces liberated Andriyivka on September 14 and achieved partial success near Klishchiyivka.

On September 15, Ukraine's 3^rd Separate Assault Brigade reported that its personnel had liberated Andriyivka and "completely destroyed" the russian 72^nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade (3^rd Army Corps) after surrounding them.

The General Staff of Ukraine reported that Ukrainian troops are continuing their offensive in the west of the Zaporizhzhia Region and inflicting significant losses on russian personnel and equipment near Verbove.

According to ISW, units of the 72^nd Brigade had previously suffered significant losses during localized Ukrainian counterattacks in the Bakhmut area in May 2023 and were likely completely degraded. The Ukrainian 3^rd Airborne Assault Brigade said that the liberation of Andriyivka opens up opportunities for a breakthrough on the southern flank of Bakhmut and that fighting continues in the area.

The russian military admitted that the tactical situation south of Bakhmut was deteriorating for them and expressed concern that Ukrainian forces could threaten the russian group in Bakhmut.

ISW Key Findings for September 15:

• Ukrainian forces liberated Andriyivka in the Bakhmut area on September 14 and continued offensive operations near Bakhmut and in western Zaporizhzhia Region on September 15.
• Russian State Duma Deputy and former Deputy Commander of the Southern Military District (SMD) Lieutenant General Andrei Gurulev complained about lying within the russian military and highlighted the effectiveness of Ukrainian air defenses against russian helicopters.
• Ukrainian forces conducted naval drone strikes on russian ships in the Black Sea on September 14.
• Russian forces conducted another series of Shahed-131/-136 drone strikes targeting Ukrainian rear areas on September 15.
• Russian State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrei Kartapolov explicitly stated that mobilized personnel will only demobilize at the end of russia's "special military operation."
• The russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) continues efforts to assume control over the Wagner Group's operations in North Africa and may have assigned former commander of the Aerospace Forces (VKS) Sergei Surovikin to this task.
• Russian forces conducted offensive operations along the Kupiyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line, near Bakhmut, along the Avdiyivka-Donetsk City line, and in western Zaporizhzhia Region and advanced in some areas on September 15.
• Russian occupation authorities continue efforts to strengthen ground lines of communication (GLOCs) connecting occupied southern Ukraine to russia and occupied Crimea.