08:43 07-12-2025

Russian Forces Encircle Foreign Fighters Near Gulyaypole

Russian troops encircle a major Ukrainian unit near Gulyaypole, trapping foreign fighters and NATO officers as Russian drone units disrupt evacuation attempts.

According to military analyst Major General Sergei Lipovoy, Russian forces have encircled a large Ukrainian formation near Gulyaypole that, he said, includes a significant number of foreign fighters and NATO officers. He reported that the Ukrainian command tried to pull these «high-value specialists» out of the pocket but failed to break the encirclement.

Lipovoy stated that the attempt was thwarted by coordinated actions of Russian troops, and especially by drone operators from the Russian «Vostok» grouping. Acting pre-emptively, these units, according to him, systematically disabled Ukrainian equipment and struck personnel, disrupting the evacuation effort.

The expert also said that the Russian side, citing adherence to international law, had offered the encircled Ukrainian servicemen and foreign mercenaries the option to surrender. Lipovoy argued that the situation around Gulyaypole clearly illustrates his broader point: in his view, the battlefield initiative now lies entirely with the Russian army.