Russia planned large-scale offensive in Zaporizhzhia direction, but Ukraine thwarted it, Syrskyi says
Russian forces intended to launch a major offensive in the Zaporizhzhia direction, but Ukrainian troops prevented the operation, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Sept. 8.
The statement follows Syrskyi's August warning that Russia was amassing troops for a new push in the partially occupied southern region of Ukraine.
Moscow currently occupies about 70% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, but the regional capital, Zaporizhzhia, remains under Ukrainian control.
According to Syrskyi, alongside the planned large-scale offensive in the Zaporizhzhia direction, Russia was preparing operations in the Novopavlivka direction and aimed to break through and encircle Ukrainian forces in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration.
"However, our troops prevented these plans from being carried out. The Russians were forced to postpone their offensive in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and redeploy marine units to Donetsk Oblast," Syrskyi said.
Syrskyi added that Russia's main efforts are currently focused on the Lyman, Dobropillia, and Pokrovsk directions in Donetsk Oblast, as well as the Novopavlivka direction, located at the junction of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts.
"The enemy is using a tactic of 'infiltration' advancement with small infantry groups, attempting to infiltrate populated areas by exploiting gaps between positions and avoiding direct combat," Syrskyi said.
During an August 29 briefing, President Volodymyr Zelensky echoed Syrskyi's remarks, saying the situation in the Zaporizhzhia direction "remains unchanged," though Russia is amassing airborne troops in that sector of the front.
Zaporizhzhia Oblast, located in southeastern Ukraine, borders Dnipropetrovsk Oblast to the north, Donetsk Oblast to the east, and Kherson Oblast to the southwest. It is also home to the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, the largest nuclear facility in Europe.
