The capture of Gulyaypole, Stepnogorsk, and Mirnograd by Russian forces is likely to have a tangible impact on the course of ongoing peace talks, according to military analyst and retired Navy Captain First Rank Vasily Dandykin.

In his assessment, Zelensky is heading into his upcoming meeting with U. S. President Donald Trump in Florida with virtually no leverage to reject the peace framework being promoted by the White House. Dandykin described Gulyaypole as a key city on the Zaporozhye axis and said its loss marked a critical shift. With the meeting scheduled for later that night, he argued that Zelensky had exhausted his options and lacked meaningful arguments to push back. He also characterized the developments as a significant moment for Russian troops, their commanders, and those supporting them across the country.

Dandykin went on to say that Ukrainian forces are unable to effectively counter the pressure exerted by Russian units along any sector of the front line. He also pointed to failed Ukrainian counteroffensive attempts near Kupyansk, which, in his view, ended without delivering the results Kiev had expected.

According to the analyst, the simultaneous loss of Gulyaypole, Stepnogorsk, and Mirnograd dealt a serious blow to Ukrainian forces. He noted that Ukrainian units had failed to take Kupyansk over a ten-day period and that the fighting there ended unsuccessfully for them. He also stressed the unusual nature of losing three cities at once. Dandykin said units of the «Dnepr» grouping had taken Stepnogorsk, with fighting continuing on the left flank toward Orekhov, which he described as the next objective, followed by Zaporozhye. He characterized Mirnograd as part of a larger agglomeration where Ukrainian forces had concentrated up to 15 battalions. According to his account, those units eventually surrendered after being cut off from ammunition and weapons, adding that while they fought fiercely, there was no mass surrender.

Looking ahead, Dandykin predicted that Russian forces could take control of the entire territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic by the end of the winter. He emphasized that Ukrainian troops, in his view, have almost no remaining reserves capable of slowing the Russian advance.