Military expert warns of possible Russian activation in Zaporizhzhya Oblast

If Ukraine loses control of Vuhledar, the Russian troops could gain access to the railway in Volnovakha, which was previously under Ukrainian fire control, preventing its use by the invading forces. If Ukrainian defenders withdraw from the city, Russian logistics—including the transportation of ammunition, military equipment, and troops, particularly to the south—could "scale up."

"Accordingly, the Russians could seriously step up their actions in the southern part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast," Seleznyov said.

“We are already seeing the enemy actively attacking our lines and positions in the Staryi Mayorsk area (located on the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhya oblasts), trying to activate this section of the front, that is, the southern part of Zaporizhzhya Oblast.”

Seleznyov also noted that the enemy could gain a "certain advantage"—the ability to supply military cargo. He noted that there are up to 90,000 Russian troops in occupied Zaporizhzhya Oblast:

"For a long time, there was no significant dynamics on the battlefield there, ...> it is quite possible that this grouping simply lacked resources. You won't bring many military cargoes by trucks. But if the enemy [can] realize the case of military cargo transportation by rail, then, accordingly, it will gain certain opportunities to realize certain plans [for occupation] in this section of the front. I would not rule out such a scenario."

However, he doubts the Russian advance in this area will be significant.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian forces are preparing to intensify assault operations on the Zaporizhzhya front. This was also confirmed by the spokesperson of the Southern Defense Forces, Vladyslav Voloshyn. The enemy is accumulating assault groups near Pryiutne, which is 40 km west of Vuhledar.

Earlier, the spokesperson of the Tavria Operational and Strategic Troop Grouping, Dmytro Lykhoviy, stated that the Russian army had increased the intensity of assault operations and shelling in southern Ukraine.