Huliaipole Becomes Site of Ukraine’s Fiercest Fighting as Russian Forces Advance

Russian Forces Intensify Assault on Huliaipole Amid Heavy Combat and Disinformation Tactics

Ukrainian forces are defending against an intensifying Russian assault on the city of Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region, with 20-25 combat clashes recorded daily inside the city, according to military spokesperson Voloshyn. Russian “fixation groups” have infiltrated the eastern part of the city and occasionally reach central areas, with the most intense fighting now concentrated in the city center and extending toward the western and southern sections.

“The enemy is actively using all types of weapons, including guided aerial bombs. We record 15-20 KAB strikes on Huliaipole every day,” Voloshyn reported, highlighting the severity of the bombardment facing Ukrainian defenders.

Beyond Huliaipole itself, Russian forces have expanded their offensive to nearby settlements, including Zaliznychne. Military analysts believe the Russian objective is to seize control of Dobropillia in the Zaporizhzhia region, as well as Pryluky and Varvarivka. These settlements hold strategic importance as they lie along a critical logistics route that connects the Pokrovsk direction in Dnipropetrovsk region to Huliaipole.

Ukrainian forces are responding with “search-and-strike operations” in Huliaipole and surrounding areas to counter Russian assault groups attempting to infiltrate the region.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has identified the Huliaipole direction as a Russian priority, noting that Moscow has concentrated forces from at least three armies and one division in this sector, underscoring its strategic significance in the broader conflict.

Alongside conventional military tactics, Russian forces have deployed an aggressive disinformation campaign. On December 26, Russian propaganda outlets falsely claimed they had entered the settlement of Kosivtseve, which Ukrainian officials immediately denounced as disinformation.

Voloshyn explained that Russian forces are utilizing what Ukrainian defenders call “flag runners” – small infiltration groups that attempt to penetrate deep into Ukrainian-held territory. “They try to penetrate deep into our rear, and for a time, they succeeded due to weather conditions such as fog and drizzle,” he said.

These “flag runners” typically slip through Ukrainian defenses, quickly capture photos or videos displaying Russian flags to create the illusion of territorial control, before they are neutralized by Ukrainian forces. Some infiltrators wear civilian clothes over their uniforms or arrive unarmed, suggesting their mission is primarily propagandistic rather than combat-oriented.

“This is primarily aimed at foreign OSINT analysts, to convince them that Ukraine’s situation is supposedly much worse than it actually is. In this way, Russia exaggerates its achievements to strengthen its position in negotiations,” Voloshyn explained, highlighting the psychological warfare dimension of these operations.

In some cases, these Russian operatives have managed to reach locations 10-15 kilometers beyond actual Russian positions, as occurred in Kosivtseve. Ukrainian officials emphasize these are isolated incidents involving small numbers of personnel rather than substantial troop movements.

On December 25, reports emerged of Russian forces attempting to break through to central Huliaipole while establishing positions on the city’s outskirts. Adding to the information warfare, Russian sources circulated video allegedly showing the capture of a command post belonging to the 1st Battalion of Ukraine’s 106th Territorial Defense Brigade. Voloshyn indicated an investigation into this incident is underway.

The battle for Huliaipole represents a significant focal point in Russia’s southern offensive, with both sides recognizing its strategic importance in the ongoing conflict. As winter conditions persist, Ukrainian forces continue to defend the city against what appears to be an increasingly concentrated Russian effort to secure this vital regional hub.