File image.
On January 27, the Russian military expanded its control in Zaporizhzhia, capturing a key settlement from Kiev forces despite poor weather conditions.
The Russian Ministry of Defense confirmed that the Vostok [East] Group of Forces had captured Novoyakovlevka, located 12 kilometers to the east of Stepnohirsk. Paratroops and volunteers from the Dnepr detachment fought Ukrainian troops inside the settlement in sub zero temperatures for days before securing it and all of its surroundings.
Pavlivka, right to the south of Novoyakovlevka, is already under Russian control. The Vostok Group of Forces’ next step will be to clear the whole area down to Shcherbaky and Shcherbaky.
The capture of Novoyakovlevka and its surroundings brought the Vostok Group of Forces closer to the О081346 road, which links the city of Orikhiv with the city of Zaporizhzhia. From the settlement, Russian drone units will be able to disturb supplies heading to Orikhiv, and even troops being rotated back to Zaporizhzhia.
Orikhiv, a defense nude of Kiev forces, will likely be the main target of a Russian large-scale offensive next spring. The Vostok Group of Forces is not, however, approaching the city from the western direction only, but also from the eastern one.
In recent days, the Vostok Group of Forces expanded their control to the west of the city of Huliaipole, which is located to the east of Orikhiv.
Russian troops broke through Ukrainian defenses in the southern outskirts of Zalishchyno, and advanced from Dorozhnianka north towards the settlement along the railway. Around 5,9 square kilometers were secured by the troops during their advance. Kiev forces are still present in some positions between the two settlements, however.
The capture of Zalishchyno would represent the first step towards Orikhiv from the eastern direction. The settlement could come under Russian control within a few weeks.
Kiev forces sent large reinforcements to Zaporizhzhia in recent weeks, but have failed to stabilize the frontline there as evident by recent Russian advances near Stepnohirsk and Huliaipole.
A wave of Ukrainian counterattacks have failed to produce anything, aside from more Ukrainian human and material losses. Next spring, the Vostok Group of Forces will likely be in a good position to attack Orikhiv from the west, east and the south, where Russian troops have been also expanding their control.
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russia advances ? good !