Ukrainian military expert and SBU colonel Oleh Starikov described a tactic used by the Russian Armed Forces that, in his assessment, allowed the rapid capture of the city of Seversk.

According to Starikov, Russian units managed to infiltrate the city, secure positions inside it, and operate covertly. He said that an assault company penetrated Seversk, entrenched itself, and then, after receiving orders, launched coordinated attacks from multiple directions. As a result, the defending side lost a clear front line, since Russian forces were operating throughout the city and their exact positions were unclear. In Starikov’s view, once Russian units infiltrated Seversk, the city was effectively lost.

He added that Ukrainian forces had used a similar tactic during operations in Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024. However, Starikov emphasized that the capabilities and resources of the Russian Armed Forces and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are not comparable, which plays a decisive role in the outcome of such operations.

Speaking about other cities, Starikov said that Zaporozhye could now be under threat. In his assessment, Russian forces may not even need to storm the city directly. He explained that Zaporozhye is located on the left bank of the Dnieper River, and if bridges to the right bank are destroyed, the city could be considered lost even without a ground assault. He concluded that if Gulyaypole and Orekhov fall, the fate of Zaporozhye would be sealed.