Ukrainian commander warns of planned transport lockdown on Zaporizhzhia
Yevhen Lasiichuk, commander of the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces, says Russia is preparing a transport and logistics lockdown on Zaporizhzhia. He reports attacks on bridges, dams and critical infrastructure, including electricity supply, while Russian forces are advancing from the east toward the city.
Hovedpunkter
- Russia's objective is to seize Zaporizhzhia and then bypass it from the north to reach Dnipro, according to Lasiichuk
- The key approaches are the Orekhiv direction from the south and the Hulaypole direction from the east
- Russian forces are attacking bridges with aircraft and guided bombs, as well as dams and electricity infrastructure
- Lasiichuk says preparations for the transport lockdown are already under way
- An estimated 50,000 Russian troops are deployed on the Hulaypole axis
- Russian forces have penetrated up to 15 kilometres behind Ukrainian positions on the Hulaypole axis
- DeepState says Hulaypole is fully occupied, but Ukraine's General Staff has not officially confirmed this
Hvorfor det er viktig
Damage to bridges, dams and electricity infrastructure could restrict the movement of people and goods in Zaporizhzhia and cause disruption. The reported concentration of about 50,000 Russian troops on the Hulaypole axis and the growing activity there increase pressure on the city. The Orekhiv direction from the south and the Hulaypole direction from the east have been identified as the two principal approaches for protecting Zaporizhzhia.
Hva som skjedde
Lasiichuk said that Russian forces are seeking to establish a transport and logistics lockdown on Zaporizhzhia in preparation for seizing the city. They have already struck bridges with aircraft and guided bombs, attacked dams and critical infrastructure, damaged electricity supply and destroyed heavy trucks to obstruct routes and create chaos. Once the lockdown is in place, he said, Russia aims to bypass Zaporizhzhia from the north and reach Dnipro.
Ukrainian forces have been identifying and destroying Russian troops up to 15 kilometres behind their positions on the Hulaypole axis. According to captured soldiers, the Russian mission is to advance as deeply as possible and consolidate. Preliminary Ukrainian estimates place the Russian grouping on this axis at around 50,000 personnel.
Slik beskriver ukrainske kilder det
Ukrainian reporting focuses on the operational situation on the Hulaypole and Orekhiv axes, the size of Russian groupings and the tasks involved in defending Zaporizhzhia. Particular attention is paid to attacks on bridges, dams, critical infrastructure and electricity supply as elements of the transport lockdown. Ukrainian command also cites the earlier decision to send reserves to Dobropillia as a measure designed to prevent a deeper Russian advance and create a barrier on the operational depth. Uncertainty over the status of Hulaypole and the possibility that the axis is being used to draw Ukrainian forces away from Donbas remain important issues.
Der framstillingene spriker
DeepState reported that Russian forces had fully occupied Hulaypole and marks the town as controlled on its interactive map. Ukraine's General Staff has not officially confirmed that assessment.
Bakgrunn
Lasiichuk commands the 7th Corps of the Air Assault Forces and was responsible for the defence of Pokrovsk last year. The corps' command moved to the Hulaypole axis several months ago. Hulaypole is an important railway junction, while the neighbouring settlement of Zalyzhnychne is only partially controlled by Russian forces.
In the summer of 2025, Ukrainian military leadership directed reserves to Dobropillia rather than Pokrovsk. According to Lasiichuk, the aim was to prevent Russian forces from advancing deep across a broad front and to create barriers on approaches through Dobropillia from the south and Barvinkove from the north.