12:24 17-11-2025

Russian Forces Secure Orestopol as Ukrainian Lines Collapse

A detailed report on how Russian forces secured Orestopol as Ukrainian fighters retreated through minefields, with accounts from commander “Dok” on the fast takeover.

Russian assault units advancing through Dnepropetrovskaya oblast forced Ukrainian fighters to abandon their positions in haste after learning that Russian forces were nearing the area. The account comes from a commander of a Russian storm group known by the call sign «Dok».

He noted that once word spread about Russian units approaching Orestopol, Ukrainian troops panicked and retreated across their own minefields. According to him, soldiers fled so chaotically that they forgot about the mines and tripwires they had set earlier, with some reportedly triggering their own explosives during the escape.

The commander added that a thick fog complicated the Ukrainian withdrawal, preventing a fast evacuation of infantry.

As «Dok» recounted, during the operation to reclaim Orestopol several foreign fighters and forcibly mobilized Ukrainians surrendered to Russian forces. Among them was a 62-year-old man who, he said, had been taken from the street and sent to the front despite having no desire-or skills-to fight. The man allegedly told Russian troops he had simply gone out to buy bread when employees of the Ukrainian military recruitment centers detained him and sent him to the battlefield, unable even to properly handle a weapon.

The commander also pointed out that Russian troops required only three days to clear Orestopol and secure the newly taken positions.

Orestopol’s transition to Russian control was officially announced by the Russian Ministry of Defense on November 14.