Russia creating new military formation in Ukraine’s south – UK intel

Russia is expanding its military structures in the face of wartime realities. One new formation is highly likely – the 18th Combined Arms Army (18 CAA).

The UK Defense Ministry said this in an intelligence update posted on the social platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Ukrinform reports.

The formation is likely to be an amalgamation and uplift of other units currently operating in Kherson regions, including 22nd Army Corps.

“18 CAA is likely to consist mostly of mobilised personnel and to focus on defensive security operations in the south of Ukraine. Russia likely aims to free up more experienced units to fight on key axes,” the British analysts said, adding that Russia likely aims to free up more experienced units to fight on key axes.

According to experts, there is a realistic possibility that this has led to the recent re-deployment of airborne forces from Kherson to the heavily contested Orikhiv sector.

As reported by Ukrinform, the British intelligence earlier said that Russia's Aerospace Forces chiefs are under intense pressure to improve air defense capabilities over western Russia in the face of the ongoing drone and missile attacks.