Ukrainian gains on Oleksandrivka axis force Russia to redeploy elite marine units — ISW

Ukrainian offensive maneuvers on this front have the strategic potential to severely endanger Russian rear logistics and disrupt ongoing Russian offensives on both the Oleksandrivka and Huliaipole axes over the medium-to-long term.

Citing operational assessments by Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets, the ISW reported that as of Oct. 25, Ukrainian forces liberated the settlements of:

• Perebudova (located east of Oleksandrivka)

• Komar (situated south of Perebudova on the opposing bank of the Mokri Yaly River)

• Fedorivka (directly south of Komar).

Mashovets further reported that Ukrainian units advanced southwest of Vesele toward Skudne (southeast of Fedorivka). The ISW noted that these battlefield movements indicate Ukrainian defense forces likely pushed Russian occupation troops out of an exposed salient along the northwestern section of the Fedorivka–Burlatske line.

While Russian units maintain entrenched positions on the northeastern periphery of Perebudova, relentless Ukrainian counterattacks along the Oleksandrivka axis compelled the Russian military command to shift units of the 120th Naval Infantry Division (Baltic Fleet) and the 40th Separate Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet) to defensive holding positions — diverting them away from planned offensive support roles on the Huliaipole axis.

"Russian naval infantry formations and units are relatively elite and more combat capable compared to other Russian conventional units, and the Russian military command typically commits naval infantry to high-priority sectors," the ISW explained.

"Elements of the 120th Naval Infantry Division and 40th Naval Infantry Brigade had been operating in the Dobropillya direction before their redeployment to the Oleksandrivka direction in March 2026."

Furthermore, Russian commanders redeployed armored units of the 90th Tank Division (41st Combined Arms Army) to the Oleksandrivka sector. These armored assets were originally earmarked to spearhead Russian offensive operations toward Druzhkivka. Since March 2026, subunits of the 90th Tank Division had been fragmented across multiple operational directions, including northern Ukraine and various sectors of Donetsk Oblast.

"Ukrainian forces have been conducting counterattacks in the Oleksandrivka direction since early February 2026, and alongside other tactical counterattacks, are contesting Russian theater-wide initiative. Velyka Novosilka sits at a critical road junction supporting Russian offensive efforts to advance west of Huliaipole for a double envelopment of Orikhiv, and further Ukrainian advances would threaten the rear of these Russian forces," the ISW concluded.

Frontline Friction on Flanking Axes

While suffering tactical reversals along the Mokri Yaly River, Russian forces continue to apply grinding localized pressure elsewhere in the east and south.

On Oct. 26, Ukrainian DeepState monitoring group confirmed incremental Russian advances near Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast and near the village of Vozdvyzhivka in the Huliaipole district of Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

The ISW's confirmation of Russian defensive strain coincides with recent rebuttals by AFU General Staff, which dismissed claims by Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov regarding the imminent encirclement of Kramatorsk and the capture of Dobropillya as fabricated battlefield propaganda designed to mask stalled offensive objectives.