Russia Removes Elite Troops From The Pokrovsky Direction
- 8.03.2026, 8:46
And sends them south.
Russian military commanders have moved elite airborne troops and marine infantry units to the southern section of the front following the successes of Ukraine's armed forces.
The reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russian forces have withdrawn some units from the Pokrovsky direction
According to analysts, Russian forces have withdrawn some units from the Pokrovsky direction and the Dobropillya area in eastern Ukraine.
These units were probably redeployed to the southern front line after the intensification of Ukrainian actions in the Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk directions.
The ISW believes that the decision is linked to the recent successes of the Ukrainian army, which forced the Russian command to promptly reinforce the most vulnerable areas.
How Russia responds to counterattacks by the AFU
It is noted that such tactics have been used before. The Russian command has repeatedly moved "relatively elite" Marine units to priority areas in response to Ukrainian counterattacks.
In particular, such movements were recorded during the fighting in the Kursk area in August 2024, as well as in the area of Dobropillya in September 2025.
Southern Front Strengthening
The ISW believes that the transfer of the Pacific Fleet Marines to southern Ukraine is probably related to the ongoing counterattacks of the AFU in Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk regions. These actions by the Ukrainian army began in late January and continued into early February 2026.
The Role of the 76th Airborne Division
Analysts also recalled that Russia has already used the redeployment of elements of the 76th Airborne Division to respond to critical situations on the front.
"The redeployment of elements of the 76th Airborne Division to southern Ukraine was probably not in response to Ukrainian counterattacks in Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as the counterattacks occurred later, although these Airborne Division elements are now just as involved in responding to Ukrainian counterattacks that began in late January and early February 2026," ISW summarized.