Russian Threat To Huliaipole Stopped As Ukraine Reinforcements Surprise Attack

Overconfident Russian units heedlessly advancing were once again stopped by Ukrainian troops, this time at Huliaipole, which had been another town reportedly threatened.

The pattern emerging is that Russian intelligence is not particularly good nor shared widely enough among units so that the Ukrainians are able to ambush and counterattack, inflicting significant damage. JL

New Voice of Ukraine reports:

The Russians  came close to fully occupying the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhya Oblast last week, but Ukrainian commanders’ timely decisions prevented the loss of the city and slowed the Russian advance. Reinforcements from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment and a mechanized brigade were sent to that sector. Right in front of Huliaipole, they began setting up a new defensive line. "The enemy has significantly slowed its advance toward Huliaipole"

RRussian invaders came close to fully occupying the city of Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhya Oblast last week, but Ukrainian commanders’ timely decisions prevented the loss of the city and slowed the Russian advance

Analysts said that after the loss of Poltavka and Uspenivka in Zaporizhzhya, a unit of the Assault Forces decided to urgently fortify new defensive lines south of the village of Novouspenivske. At that time, the 102nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade was holding back Russian forces.

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No encirclement near Huliaypole despite Russian assaults

“When the enemy broke through the units to the left of the 102nd, they faced infiltrated enemy groups on their flank and in their rear. At the same time, one of the battalions of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade lost command and control, and the troops were left to fend for themselves. Not understanding what to do, they decided to withdraw as a whole unit. Nearly two companies began leaving the area of Zelenyi Hai and Vysoke in groups,” DeepState wrote.

 

The analysts noted that due to the chaos and unauthorized withdrawal, there were incidents of friendly fire. However, after the situation was reviewed, covering groups were deployed in support.

Before that, reinforcements from the 225th Separate Assault Regiment and a mechanized brigade were sent to that sector. Right in front of Huliaipole, they began setting up a new defensive line, DeepState reported.

The statement said the situation is now stabilizing.

“Chaos in the battle formations has almost completely disappeared, the enemy has significantly slowed its advance toward Huliaipole, and a new defensive line has been established,” DeepState said.

Situation near Huliaipole

On Nov. 15, Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn said there is a risk of further Russian advances toward Huliaipole — particularly along the route leading from Pokrovske in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He confirmed that Russian forces are trying to isolate the town and cut it off from key logistical routes.

On Nov. 16, ISW said the situation around Huliaipole remains “very serious,” with Russian forces continuing to advance toward the town, which is 4–8 kilometers away.

Analysts also confirmed that Russian forces seek to encircle the town and cut it off from logistical routes from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Read also: 

DeepState: Russian troops gain ground near Yampil, Novomarkove, and Huliaipole

On Nov. 18, Zaporizhzhya regional authorities called the security situation in Oblast the most difficult since the start of the full-scale invasion.

On Nov. 20, DeepState reported that the village of Vesele near Huliaipole had been occupied. Later, the Southern Defense Forces denied this information.

On Nov. 26, the Southern Defense Forces said the situation on the Huliaipole axis remains difficult, but Ukrainian troops are not encircled.