File image.
The Russian military expanded its control in Zaporizhzhia on February 8 and 9, despite harsh weather conditions, and managed to capture two settlements from Kiev forces.
Advancing from Sviatopetrivka, located to the northwest of the city of Huliaipole, the Vostok Group of Forces managed to capture Tsvetkove and Krynichne, which are located further to the west. The Russian Ministry of Defense has not announced the capture of the two settlements, which indicate that troops are still working to secure their outskirts.
Russian troops repelled at least four Ukrainian counterattacks close to the two settlements in recent days, destroying several dozen military vehicles and killing over a hundred troops.
The capture of the two settlements will allow the Vostok Group of Forces to mount a direct attack on Verkhnia Tersa, which lies right to the west.
The advance in the area also increases pressure on Zaliznychne, located directly to the west of Huliaipole. Kiev forces holding up at the settlement are already facing pressure from the eastern and southern directions.
In fact, the Sever Group of Forces cleared around four square kilometers along the railway stretching to the south of the settlement.
Currently, the Russian military appears to be focusing on expanding its control to the west of the Haichur River. Once Zaliznychne is secured, the Vostok Group of Forces will likely shift attention north. Consolidating gains to the west of the river is essential for the upcoming offensive on the city of Orikhiv, a key node of Ukrainian defenses in Zaporizhzhia, which could begin by spring.
In addition to the ongoing operations by the Vostok Group of Forces in Zaporizhzhia, the Tsentr [Center] Group of Forces appears to have resumed its advance in Dnipropetrovsk.
Russian troops have reportedly broken through Ukrainian defenses to the west and east of Ivanivka, securing more than nine square kilometers.
The advance in this direction will increase pressure on remaining Ukrainian troops in Novopavlivka, which is located right to the east. This would in turn further limit Ukraine’s ability to redeploy units from this direction, to others to the west in Zaporozhye, or to the east in Donetsk.
Click to see full-size map.
All in all, the harsh weather condition had very little effect on the operations of the Russian military in Zaporozhye, where advancements are being reported daily.
The situation will likely get worse for Ukraine forces by spring, especially that Kiev is yet to find a solution for the shortage in manpower.
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