Ukraine has recaptured 12 settlements and restored control over 480 square kilometres of territory since launching an offensive operation on the Oleksandrivka direction at the end of January, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine General Oleksandr Syrskyi reported on 5 April following a working visit to the area.
Eight of the liberated settlements are in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, four in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to Syrskyi. During the visit, Major General Oleh Apostol briefed the Commander-in-Chief on the situation and the results of previously assigned tasks. Discussions covered ways to raise the effectiveness of active operations within designated sectors and how to counter enemy assault activities.
The Oleksandrivka direction runs along the Zaporizhzhia–Dnipropetrovsk Oblast border, an area where Russian forces advanced in summer 2025 with the stated goal of liberating Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Russian advances there were intended to complement operations near Hulyaipole, allowing Russian forces to approach Zaporizhzhia city from multiple directions and bypass Ukraine's heavily fortified east–west defensive lines in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
480 sq km recaptured since late January offensive
Russian forces continue to press on the direction, attacking near Ternove, Oleksandrograd, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, and Sichnevе, and pushing toward Sosnivka, Verbove, and Zlahoda. Sixty-four enemy attacks were recorded on the direction over the past week alone.
"Russian forces are not abandoning further offensive operations, are regrouping their available forces and assets," Syrskyi said.
Despite those numbers, Ukraine's Defence Forces are conducting active defence, inflicting fire damage on Russian personnel, weapons, and military equipment, according to the Commander-in-Chief.
Russia launches 64 attacks in one week, aims to create "buffer zone"
Russia's stated objective on this axis is territorial expansion. "The occupiers' goal, despite significant losses in personnel and military equipment, is to seize more Ukrainian territory and create a 'buffer zone' in Dnipropetrovshchyna," Syrskyi said.
The working visit also took Syrskyi to the Pokrovsk direction, where he met with the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces. Corps commander Brigadier General Yevhen Lasiichuk and unit commanders reported on the current situation and outstanding issues.
"I immediately issued orders for additional supply of ammunition and other material and technical means to strengthen the firepower of our units in Donetsk Oblast," Syrskyi wrote.
Separately, ArmiyaInform reports that Syrskyi held a phone call with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Alexus Grynkewich.
