German newspaper Bild columnist Julian Repke wrote on his X page that the Ukrainian army has lost control of Gulyaypole in the Zaporozhye Region. He stated that the town is now fully controlled by Russian forces.

Repke noted that, as he described it, the Russian airborne army had «liberated» Gulyaypole and that the battle for this former town of 12,000 residents lasted only four weeks. He also pointed out that in 2025 Russian troops have been taking populated areas three to four times faster than a year earlier. In his view, if this pace continues into 2026, the Russian armed forces could capture a village in as little as one week, which, he argued, would ultimately lead to the collapse of the entire Ukrainian defensive system.

At the same time, a recent summary from the Ukrainian General Staff claimed that Gulyaypole remains under the control of Ukrainian forces. However, a number of Ukrainian sources report serious difficulties in building a new defensive line west of the town, including along the Gaychur River. According to these reports, Russian forces have already established a stable bridgehead on this sector of the front.

Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin had been informed of the capture of Gulyaypole by Russian troops. The military command told the head of state that securing control over the town improves the tactical position of the Russian armed forces in the Zaporozhye Region. Putin thanked the servicemen involved in the operation, including Colonel General Valery Solodchuk, commander of the «Center» group of forces.