Russian forces, taking advantage of the fact that Ukraine’s main troops are concentrated on defending Pokrovsk, are intensifying their offensive in the southeast. Russia is advancing toward the city of Zaporizhzhia. If they come close enough, they could begin hunting civilians with FPV drones, just as they did in Kherson, says Petro Andriushchenko, head of the Center for the Study of Occupation of Ukraine, UNIAN reports.
More than 70% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is under Russian occupation, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the Regional Military Administration. However, the main city of the region, Zaporizhzhia, remains free.
“Half of Kherson is already covered with anti-drone nets because Russians are hunting living people,” Andriushchenko continues.
'Time is running out': A stark warning
The path to defending Zaporizhzhia lies through the strategically important towns of Orikhiv and Huliaipole, which are now threatened with encirclement. Pressure on Huliaipole has continued since June, as Russians searched for a weak point in Ukraine’s defenses.
Now that many Ukrainian troops are concentrated on the Pokrovsk front, fighting a 170,000-strong Russian grouping, the Zaporizhzhia front is in danger.
The situation around Huliaipole remains one of the most tense on the southern front, UkrInform reports. The occupiers are attempting to encircle the town from the east and north, says the spokesperson for the South's Defense Forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn.
On 11 November, Ukrainian troops pulled back from positions near five settlements in the region as Russian forces intensified attacks. The withdrawal followed several days of heavy fighting, with Russian units carrying out over 400 artillery strikes daily and firing around 2,000 shells at Ukrainian soldiers.
Fewer than 500 people remain in the Huliaipole community. The community head is urging civilians to evacuate, as the number of drone attacks has sharply increased.
“All roads and communications are unfortunately controlled by enemy drones, including optical fiber lines. Entering or leaving Huliaipole is now a lottery ticket. The drones see everything,” says Serhii Yarmak, head of the Huliaipole community.
A chilling echo of Vuhledar: Russia's 'meat grinder' tactic returns
Voloshyn says Russians are attempting to breach Ukrainian defenses by advancing closer to a logistical route that runs through the neighboring Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
“Russian groups, moving through tree lines, are attempting to penetrate deeper into our defenses,” the spokesperson notes.
Voloshyn stresses that Ukrainian troops carry out daily search-and-strike operations to detect and eliminate such groups, and also conduct counter-assault actions to prevent Russian advances. Fighting is especially intense near Yablukove.
The advance could end in tragedy.
“A year ago we saw the same thing near Vuhledar. It ended with the occupation of Kurakhove. We see the same now: a flank strike, a wedge, infiltration, and then an expansion of the front line,” Andriushchenko emphasizes.
Since last week, the Russian military has been actively moving manpower into Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
'A river of steel': 70 trucks a day build a new Russian strike force
“They are transferring it in organized columns, entering from the territory of the Russian Federation. On average, up to 70 trucks per day, mostly with manpower, as well as engineering units and equipment,” Andriushchenko highlights.
Meanwhile, German military analyst Julian Röpcke, in BILD, says Ukrainian positions have become increasingly vulnerable due to mistakes by allies and Ukraine's military leadership.
The analyst criticizes the inefficiency of armored vehicle deliveries — more than 2,000 units supplied by the West — due to Russia’s dominance in fiber-optic systems and other drone technologies. Instead, Röpcke advises focusing on drones and missiles to counter the aggressor, Andrii Kovalenko, the Center for Countering Disinformation writes.
Particular concern is caused by problems with mobilization and resource management.
“If Kyiv and its partners do not change strategy immediately, Russia will gradually win this war,” the analyst warns, calling for decisive reforms.
