Stepnogorsk remains one of the Russian Federation's main targets
The Russian army has not abandoned its plans to capture Stepnogorsk in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Defense Forces say the city is of great strategic importance because it allows them to control key routes and bring artillery closer to Zaporizhzhia, Lieutenant Colonel Serhiy Bratchuk said on the air on Novyny.LIVE.
According to Serhiy Bratchuk, this city remains very important to the occupiers due to its location. Stepnogorsk sits on dominant heights, which provides an advantage for artillery and control over the surrounding territory.
Bratchuk explained that the Russians wanted to bring large-caliber artillery there to keep the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia under fire and create conditions for a further advance on the regional center. “To control the outskirts of Zaporizhzhia with this large-caliber artillery, in order to create conditions for a further advance specifically on the regional center,” he said.
The military official also noted that the Russian army actively used the town of Primorske for this purpose. It was there that the enemy attempted to build up its defenses and concentrate its forces.
According to Bratchuk, Stepnogorsk is now largely cleared of Russian groups and is under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. Ukrainian special forces, particularly fighters from the Main Intelligence Directorate, played a major role in this. “We managed to clear Stepnogorsk—it is indeed under the control of the Defense Forces,” Bratchuk noted.
However, the situation remains tense. Russian units continue to use infiltration tactics—small groups are attempting to seep closer to Ukrainian positions so as not to lose control of certain areas.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine believe that the enemy has not abandoned its intentions to resume active attacks in this direction. Especially given that Stepnogorsk opens up the possibility of putting pressure on Zaporizhzhia. At the same time, part of the Russian forces from this area has already been redeployed to the Huliaipole direction. There, the occupiers have also significantly intensified their combat activity recently.
Bratchuk emphasized that the Russian command is currently searching for weak spots across several sections of the front in the Zaporizhzhia region. However, Ukrainian troops continue to hold their positions and maintain control of the situation.
Stepnogorsk remains one of the key defense hubs in the south. That is why fighting around it is likely to continue.
