On the southern front, the Russian army continues shelling and conducting assault operations. The hottest fighting is ongoing in the Novopavlivka sector, where the enemy is attempting to break through toward the administrative border of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, said this on Ukrainian television, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.
“There has never been complete silence, or even silence as such, in the south, because the enemy has continued artillery shelling and has carried out strikes using kamikaze drones, as well as air strikes – both with guided aerial bombs and unguided rockets. They have also conducted assault operations, and the number of those is quite high. It varies by sector, but, for example, on the Novopavlivka axis, there were as many as 24 combat engagements. The enemy is very active in the south,” Voloshyn said.
According to the spokesperson, the most active enemy actions are taking place in the Novopavlivka sector, where they are trying to break through toward the administrative borders of the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
“There is a significant concentration of enemy assault infantry in that area. These are assault units from four Russian regiments, which, on a relatively small stretch of the frontline, are attempting their assaults. Ukraine’s Defense Forces are conducting maneuver defense and trying to destroy the enemy. The enemy is suffering heavy losses here – around 150 personnel per day,” Voloshyn said.
He added that during assaults, the enemy is using a large number of motorcycles, which Ukrainian forces are also successfully destroying.
On the Orikhiv axis, the enemy is trying to break through the defensive line and capture a bridgehead near the settlements of Stepove, Lobkove, and Mali Shcherbaky.
“They want to take control of this bridgehead in order to place our logistical routes from Zaporizhzhia to the east – toward Huliaipole and Orikhiv – under fire control, and also to fire on the city of Zaporizhzhia itself, especially its southern and eastern suburbs. That is why, for several months now, the enemy has been unsuccessfully continuing assault operations in this area,” Voloshyn said.
At the same time, he confirmed that the occupiers are not facing a shortage of kamikaze drones. According to the spokesperson, over the past 24 hours, more than 600 kamikaze drone attacks and 300 drone drops using over 400 munitions were recorded. In general, enemy drone attacks have increased by about 20% recently.
Ukrainian forces are effectively destroying Russian artillery systems thanks to successful counter-battery efforts. However, as Russian artillery becomes less effective, they rely more on drones and aviation.
Regarding the situation in the Zaporizhzhia sector, Voloshyn recalled that Russian occupiers are trying to break through to the Dnipropetrovsk region by attempting to seize Zelene Pole, Vilne Pole, Novopil, and Novosilka.
“There is currently intense and fierce fighting in that area. However, the Defense Forces are conducting positional defense and trying not to let the enemy through, inflicting heavy losses,” Voloshyn said.
