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Today, there are important updates from the Zaporizhia direction.
Here, after the Ukrainian breakthrough halted the Russian offensive, it was now or never for the Ukrainians to make the next important step. Deadly combat began as the Ukrainian special forces launched a mechanized breakthrough into Stepnohirsk, putting the entire Russian effort here under threat of collapse.
Ukrainian military intelligence special forces dismantled Russian infiltration groups attempting to push toward the regional capital, eliminating more than three hundred Russian soldiers through coordinated drone strikes, trench-clearing assaults, and close-quarters combat, effectively stopping the enemy offensive. Those rapid counterattacks restored control over critical positions across three separate axes before Russian units could consolidate. Ukrainian forces are now entering the second phase of their operation to turn the tide completely, with the key objective becoming Stepnohirsk.
After pushing Russian forces back from surrounding areas, Ukrainian troops gained enough operational space to begin conducting deeper raids, particularly along the western flank near Primorske. This relative freedom allowed the Ukrainian command to plan a mechanized assault that would allow a breakthrough into Stepnohirsk. Ukrainian planners first used reconnaissance drones and special forces patrols to identify the safest approach corridors, mapping Russian firing positions, minefields, and drone launch sites before the assault even began. Due to the extensive mining of the area by both the Ukrainians and the Russians, Ukrainian officers decided to rely on mine-resistant ambush-protected vehicles that would provide enough survivability for troops to move along the local dirt roads without becoming immobilized and exposed to constant Russian drone strikes.
Geolocated footage released by the Ukrainian special forces unit Artan shows the beginning of the operation, with Ukrainian armored vehicles advancing carefully along the road leading toward Stepnohirsk during the early morning hours and under the cover of dense fog. Despite these advantages, protecting the Ukrainian assault group from Russian drones, the route was extremely dangerous, as destroyed enemy vehicles littered the road and limited the speed of the Ukrainians, while mines remained scattered across their path. Several mines detonated as the convoy moved forward, but the Ukrainian Mrap vehicles continued advancing despite the explosions.
Once they reached the northern edge of Stepnohirsk, the Ukrainian formation split into several groups. Armored vehicles immediately began suppressing Russian positions with machine gun and automatic grenade launcher fire, targeting the first rows of buildings to suppress Russian forces holding the outer perimeter of defense.
After dismounting, Ukrainian special forces transitioned into urban clearing operations, as soldiers moved systematically from basement to basement and building to building, using grenades and explosives to neutralize entrenched Russian positions while minimizing their own casualties. The fighting quickly became close-range and chaotic, with Ukrainian teams methodically securing one block after another. At the same time, Ukrainian FPV drone operators joined the assault, hunting Russian troops attempting to reposition deeper inside the settlement and forcing them to retreat further south. By the end of the operation, Ukrainian forces had established a foothold over the northern part of Stepnohirsk, while artillery and drone strikes continued targeting Russian positions in the southern sectors of the town.
By achieving this, Ukrainian forces disrupted the process of the Russians consolidating control and reversed the situation. With Ukrainian troops inside the settlement, Russia’s infiltrators are the ones under pressure. The foothold allows Ukrainian soldiers to move between buildings and covered positions while reconnaissance drones constantly monitor Russian movement overhead. This creates relatively secure corridors for reinforcements and supplies to enter the town.
Overall, the Ukrainian entry into Stepnohirsk represents the second phase of a carefully planned operation aimed at stopping the Russian riverbank advance toward Zaporizhia. Ukrainian special forces are pushing directly into the contested settlement itself to prevent the Russians from regrouping and expanding further north. Yet through rapid planning, aggressive counterattacks, and coordinated drone warfare, Ukraine is now reversing the momentum and steadily pushing Russian forces back from one of the most dangerous sectors threatening the regional capital.
