Russian assaults increase on Zaporizhzhia front

Russian forces are escalating their attacks on the Zaporizhzhia front, attempting to breach Ukrainian defensive lines with small infantry groups.

Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vlad Voloshyn said this in comments to journalists.

"The overall intensity of shelling and assaults is rising, though gradually. These are small infantry assaults, but the enemy is persistently trying to push north and seize our positions. On the Zaporizhzhia front, Russian forces have already obliterated settlements along the frontline -- Piatykhatky, Lobkove, Stepove -- where not a single building remains intact. They continue to launch attacks there, but the vast majority of these assaults fail. Occasionally, Russian troops manage to infiltrate certain areas, such as Piatykhatky, and attempt to fortify positions. However, Ukrainian defense forces push them back," Voloshyn said.

Despite Russia's continued offensives, Ukraine has not lost any positions in the Huliaipole and Orikhiv sectors, he said. "The frontline is a dynamic environment. It’s too early to say whether we've lost or gained ground," Voloshyn added.

When asked about the possibility of a large-scale Russian offensive on Zaporizhzhia, Orikhiv, or Huliaipole, Voloshyn dismissed the likelihood, stating that Russia lacks the necessary resources.

"The enemy is attempting to capture Chasiv Yar, about the size of Orikhiv and Huliaipole. To carry out such an offensive operation, they would need to amass a large number of forces and resources. At present, the enemy has reinforced its troops but only for conducting assault operations with small infantry groups. Our intelligence has not observed a buildup of large forces for a full-scale offensive. Hiding such forces would be extremely difficult due to the sheer number of armored vehicles and personnel involved. Moreover, operations of this scale require air support, drones, and electronic warfare systems. I believe the enemy will continue its current tactic -- persistent assaults by small infantry groups. A number of these groups are concentrated in both the Huliaipole and Orikhiv sector, but they are being eliminated daily," Voloshyn said.

He noted that enemy losses in these areas exceed 100 personnel per day, along with the destruction of approximately 30–40 vehicles, including armored units, and up to 5–10 various artillery systems.

When asked why the enemy seeks to capture settlements like Piatykhatky in the Zaporizhzhia region, Voloshyn explained that advancing toward certain settlements in this sector would allow the Russian army to establish positions for heavy artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, enabling them to strike the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia and continue terrorizing the local population.

"This would also serve as a foothold to maintain fire control over key logistical routes leading eastward. Ukraine's Defense Forces are actively working to prevent Russian troops from shifting the frontline," Voloshyn said.