A Russian elite unit's motivation dropped to "critical levels," a US think tank said. Russian forces are seeking to prevent Ukraine breaking through on a key part of the front line. AdvertisementAdvertisementA Russian elite unit's motivation to fight dropped to "critical levels" amid high casualties in Ukraine, analysts said. Russia's VDV units have been deployed in the region to make counterattacks to slow Ukraine's counteroffensive, suffering high casualties. AdvertisementAdvertisementReports have emerged in recent weeks of heavy casualties in Russian units launching counterattacks to slow Ukraine's counteroffensive in the east and south of the country.

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Persons: —, Alexander Khodakovsky, Khodakovsky, Andrei Kondrashkin, Kondrashkin, Mikhail Teplinsky, Russia's, they've Organizations: Institute, Service Locations: Ukraine, Bakhmut