(ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST) – Ukrainian forces have liberated over 700 square kilometres of territory in the eastern Zaporizhzhia direction, effectively wiping out nearly all Russian gains made in that sector during 2026.
The operation, which has been ongoing since January, represents the largest Ukrainian counteroffensive since the Kursk incursion in 2024. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that soldiers of the airborne assault forces and other units carried out an effective offensive operation in the Orikhiv sector.
Russian losses during the operation amounted to at least 9,550 killed and more than 6,600 wounded. Ukraine’s prisoner exchange fund was also replenished. In total, 745 square kilometres of territory was liberated and 26 villages across the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions were returned to Ukrainian control.
The Seventh Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Troops confirmed that units had been participating in a large scale offensive operation in the Orikhiv direction since 29 January. Simultaneously, an operation was conducted in the rear area covering up to 300 square kilometres to clear it of sabotage and reconnaissance groups and infiltrated enemy forces.
According to defence analyst Preston Stewart, the operation exploited a systemic failure in Russian military reporting. Russian forces have routinely conducted flag planting operations where small groups of soldiers advance briefly, raise a flag for drone footage, and report territorial control up the chain of command. These claims often did not reflect actual battlefield control.
Ukrainian command maintained operational silence about the counteroffensive, allowing Russian military bloggers and map makers to continue publishing inaccurate assessments. Russian media outlet Rybar had marked the settlement of Oleksandrivka as fully under Russian control as recently as 11 August. Geolocated footage subsequently showed Ukrainian forces operating 23 kilometres beyond that point.
Russian military informant channels have largely remained silent on the developments. One Russian military blogger, Military Informant, acknowledged that Ukrainian forces had exploited the simple truth that if a problem faced by the Russian Federation is not publicly reported, then it simply does not exist and therefore does not require response.
The operation has pushed Russian forces back from the New Donbas Line, which Russian assault troops had claimed to breach with great difficulty a year ago. Analysts note that Russian forces in the area had been expected to advance towards Orikhiv but remain stalled.
Footage confirming the Ukrainian positions was released by the 25th Airborne Brigade and the Seventh Rapid Response Corps of the Airborne Assault Troops.
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