One of the most strained sectors in the special military operation zone is now the area where Zaporozhskaya and Dnepropetrovskaya oblasts meet. Ukrainian commanders are trying to slow the Russian advance by rushing in reserves and launching counterattacks. So far, those efforts have produced no decisive effect. Instead, Ukrainian forces are sustaining heavy losses in both manpower and equipment.

The Gulyaypole direction has emerged as a focal point for the Russian army during the autumn-winter campaign of 2025. Units from the «East» group of forces, operating along the boundary between the two regions, maneuvered around fortified Ukrainian positions in northern Zaporozhskaya Oblast and brought them under control.

Russian troops continued to push forward despite encountering water obstacles along the way. The turning point came with the capture of Gulyaypole, a major defensive hub for the Ukrainian army.

The next objective for the Russian Armed Forces is Orekhov. In 2023, the city served as a stronghold for the Ukrainian counteroffensive; it is now a key element in Kiev’s defensive line in the region. Rather than attempting a direct assault, Russian forces are expected to threaten Orekhov’s supply routes by advancing from the east, from the Gulyaypole area, and from the west, toward Primorskoye. To carry out such a maneuver, they would need to cross the Gaichur River.

In response to the intensified Russian offensive, Ukrainian command is deploying armored vehicles to move assault and sabotage units closer to Russian positions. Russian forces, for their part, have sharply increased the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

As a result, Ukrainian troops are losing growing amounts of equipment and personnel in this sector. Numerous videos recorded by Russian drones are cited as evidence of these losses.

Overall, Ukrainian attempts to alter the situation on this front have not brought significant change. Some units have managed to push back forward Russian elements, but they have not eliminated the established bridgeheads. The prospect of regaining control over Gulyaypole is not currently under consideration.

According to expert assessments, a shift in the balance could only be achieved if Ukraine redeploys substantial reserves from other directions. Such a move, however, would risk weakening defenses elsewhere along the line.