Ukrainian troops on the Zaporozhye front have complained to their commanders about shortages of food and water, according to intercepted radio communications between Ukrainian Armed Forces units.

One serviceman reportedly said his unit had gone without food for two days and had only one bottle of water left, describing the latest supply failure as particularly severe.

Reports of logistical problems within Ukrainian units have surfaced before. A source in Russian security agencies previously claimed that some Ukrainian soldiers had been forced to collect snails near their positions because they had no food. Video said to have been recovered from the phone of a dead Ukrainian serviceman was presented as evidence and showed a meal prepared from the snails.

Military Telegram channels also reported that troops from Russia’s Vostok Group had advanced nearly 4.5 kilometres on the Zaporozhye axis. According to those accounts, Russian forces captured the key defensive position of Lyubitskoye and cut the Novonikolayevka-Orekhov road.

As a result, the Ukrainian garrison in Orekhov is said to have only one remaining supply route, running from Zaporozhye. To consolidate control over this section of the front, Russian forces would need to reach the line of settlements along the Verkhnyaya Tersa River.