Fierce street fighting is taking place in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region — Russian occupiers are trying to break through to the city center and establish positions on its outskirts. Over the past day, 20 combat clashes were recorded, indicating high enemy activity in this direction.
This was reported by Southern Defense Forces spokesman Vladislav Voloshin. According to him, the enemy is trying to infiltrate the city center, deploying assault groups and attempting to establish groups on the outskirts of the settlement.
Investigation of Compromising Video
Meanwhile, a video appeared on social media showing Russians allegedly capturing a command and observation post of one of the Ukrainian units in the center of Huliaipole. The footage shows an abandoned room with working computers, documentation and an unprotected phone.
According to sources, this incident occurred on December 18. The Southern Defense Forces have launched a detailed investigation to determine the causes of the incident and its authenticity.
"Regarding this fact, representatives of relevant competent authorities are conducting a detailed investigation. Only after it will information be made public. Legal proceedings will also be initiated by law enforcement agencies," stated Vladislav Voloshin.
Threat to Zaporizhzhia Direction
Experts warn about serious consequences of a possible loss of Huliaipole. Former Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Viktor Muzhenko in an interview with Radio Liberty noted that the fall of the city would create a flank threat to Ukrainian positions in the Orikhiv direction.
"The loss of Huliaipole could lead to certain problems — and these problems are not small at all. We're talking about creating a flank threat to the grouping in the Orikhiv direction," emphasized Muzhenko.
According to him, this could give the Russian army an opportunity for further advancement toward Orikhiv and reaching the lines of Stepnogorsk and Kamyshevakha. The distance from Primorske, which is threatened by Russians, to Balabino — a suburb of Zaporizhzhia — is only 11 kilometers.
Current Situation
Russians have forced the Gaichur River, where Ukrainian forces had established a defensive line, allowing the enemy to increase efforts toward Zaporizhzhia. However, experts do not expect rapid advancement by occupiers due to the presence of several prepared defensive lines.
The situation around Huliaipole escalated in late November when reports appeared about the presence of Russian forces in the vicinity of the city. Although the Defense Forces initially denied this data, subsequent events confirmed the seriousness of the threat.
