Ukrainian defenses in the fortified area around Orekhovo on the Zaporozhye direction have begun to collapse following joint offensive operations by Russia’s Vostok and Dnepr groups of forces, military expert and retired LPR Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Marochko has said.

Citing his own sources, Marochko said Russian troops had broken through the Ukrainian defensive line and were now advancing rapidly toward Orekhovo from two directions.

According to him, Russian forces are moving toward the city from the Novopavlovka area and from the direction of Chervonaya Krinitsa. Marochko said the situation allows him to state with complete confidence that Ukrainian defenses around Orekhovo are collapsing.

The advance is being carried out by units of the Vostok and Dnepr groups of forces, whose coordinated offensive actions resulted in the breakthrough of the Ukrainian defensive line and further movement toward Orekhovo.