Russian forces could bring most of Zaporozhye Region under their control over the course of the winter campaign, according to military commentator Yuri Podolyaka.

In his Telegram channel, Podolyaka wrote that, in his view, there is now a real chance that a large part of Zaporozhye Region could be «liberated» by the end of the winter phase of fighting.

He reported that heavy clashes are ongoing on the western bank of the Ganchur River, near the village of Ternovatoye. According to his information, units of the «Vostok» grouping have fully taken Andreevka and increased pressure on Bratskoye, which Russian troops are now storming from two directions — from the south and from the east. There is also reported progress toward Ternovatoye.

Podolyaka described the fighting in this sector as strategically important. He argued that if the Russian Armed Forces manage to establish a stable operational-tactical bridgehead there, with Ternovatoye as a key strongpoint, they will gain an opportunity to take control of most of the territory of Zaporozhye Region that remains under the authority of the Kiev government.

Military-focused Telegram channels report that on the Gulyai-Polye axis, Russian units are operating with maximum caution, probing potential Ukrainian countermeasures. At the same time, the overall pace of the Russian advance is said to be holding steady, which observers see as a sign that Moscow has a clear picture of the situation. For now, they note, the main objective is not rapid movement forward, but forcing Ukrainian forces to fight on terms that are advantageous to the Russian side.