“Large-scale troop transfers from Russia’s Rostov Oblast toward the Berdyansk–Melitopol direction passed through Mariupol for nearly three days,” Andriushchenko wrote on Telegram.
He said that on April 16, traffic was partially restricted in Mariupol’s Central and Kalmiuskyi districts.
Andriushchenko said more than 80 trucks carrying ammunition, more than 75 vehicles transporting personnel and 15 trucks with armored personnel carriers were recorded in the city.
“Unusually, National Guard trucks were also present in the columns. It appears assault troops are now being transported with the support of blocking units,” he said.
On April 17, Andriushchenko reported another large-scale transfer of troops from Rostov Oblast toward the Zaporizhzhia axis via occupied Mariupol.
“It got to the point where Kuprina Street was closed by military police to allow the column to pass, disrupting traffic on another key transport artery in the city,” he wrote.
He also stressed that the movements involve not only ammunition and personnel. For the first time in a long time, howitzers were spotted, Andriushchenko said, adding that Zaporizhzhia Oblast is once again becoming a priority for Russian occupying forces.
On March 15, Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian forces are currently treating the Zaporizhzhia direction as a primary axis and are concentrating significant forces and assets there. He said the intensity of offensive operations in the Huliaipole area is significantly higher compared with other directions.
On April 16, analysts at DeepState said Russian forces had advanced near Zelenе and in Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.