The commander of Ukraine’s 1st Separate Assault Regiment, Dmytro Filatov, known as Perun, has commented on the situation on the Zaporizhzhia front, as per Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Although Huliaipole city is nearly occupied by Russian forces, this is happening “within the framework of an overall plan."
Huliaipole, located about 98 kilometers from Zaporizhzhia, sits at the junction of three regions: the city itself is in Zaporizhzhia, but it borders Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. Every day, Russian forces shell the city with various types of weapons.
All engineering and utility networks have already been destroyed. Residents who remain are preparing food over open fires and sheltering in basements to survive.
“Part of a broader plan”: dynamics and strategy of counterattacks
“But this is part of the broader plan, and I think soon everyone will understand why the situation is unfolding this way,” Filatov says.
His regiment is currently participating in counteroffensive operations on the southern front, which have been ongoing since late January 2026.
The commander emphasized that the situation in this sector is “very dynamic,” comparing it to previous operations in the Dobropillia direction, where Ukrainian units disrupted enemy plans and stabilized the front:
“Here, it’s roughly the same. The Russians views the Zaporizhzhia direction as the next point of influence against the Armed Forces," he continues.
Russia’s strategic goal — artillery pressure on Zaporizhzhia
Filatov explains that Russia aims to advance to positions from which it can carry out heavy artillery strikes on the city of Zaporizhzhia, a key industrial hub.
According to him, targeting this city would have serious consequences for industry, the resilience of Ukrainian forces, and the state as a whole.
Russian forces and Ukrainian countermeasures
When asked about Russian troop strength in the sector, Filatov noted that the "enemy has more than enough forces to implement all of their plans."
"But due to our experienced General Staff and senior commanders, we manage to maintain balance, hold territory, and protect the lives of our soldiers," he added.
Thus, even the partial occupation of Huliaipole is seen as a tactical element of Ukraine’s overall strategy, with Ukrainian forces continuing to control key areas and counter enemy plans on the southern Zaporizhzhia front.
