Russian forces have broken through one of the key defensive lines of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Zaporozhye region and are now advancing toward Gulyaypole. The Polish outlet Myśl Polska, citing open sources and battlefield footage, reported the breakthrough.

According to the publication, units of the 5th Army of the Eastern Military District under General Andrey Ivanayev have taken control of the Poltavka fortified area along the Yanchur River. This defensive sector had been critical for Ukrainian forces, who intended to hold back the Russian advance there until the autumn mud season.

Ukrainian troops had heavily reinforced the area with bunkers, pillboxes, and concrete shelters in the settlements of Poltavka, Okhotnichye, Novonikolaevka, Uspenovka, and Privolnoye. The defense was manned by battalions of the 142nd Mechanized Brigade, along with elements of the 72nd and 74th battalions of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade.

Despite the difficult flat terrain and the presence of water obstacles, assault units of the 127th Motor Rifle Division, supported by the 30th Artillery Brigade, managed to cross the river and break through Ukrainian positions. After intense fighting, Russian troops pushed Ukrainian forces out of residential areas in Poltavka.

A major factor in the operation’s success was the use of aviation. Pilots of the 11th Guards Air Army carried out a series of strikes with glide bombs weighing between 500 kilograms and three tons. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that on October 17, Russian aviation dropped 268 such munitions — the highest number recorded to date.

Earlier reports indicated that Russian forces had also advanced toward the city of Orekhov in the Zaporozhye region and were attacking it from three directions.