The Main Intelligence Directorate reported significant losses among the occupying forces during the mop-up operation in Stepnogorsk
The recapture of Stepnogorsk allows us to stabilize the front line and deprive the enemy of a foothold for a potential offensive on Zaporizhzhia.
Fighters from the GUR special forces unit “Artan” are conducting a comprehensive operation to de-occupy and clear the settlement in the Zaporizhzhia direction in coordination with other units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
This was reported with reference to the GUR.
It is noted that as a result, several hundred occupiers have been eliminated, over 20 armored vehicles—tanks, IFVs, and scarce electronic warfare equipment—have been destroyed, and prisoners have been captured from urban areas.
“This is an atypical mission for special forces. The soldiers have to spend several months in a ‘standoff’ situation. However, their level of training allowed them to convert that endurance into an effective offensive,” said Viktor Torkotuk, commander of “Artan.”
According to the Main Intelligence Directorate, the enemy launches counterattacks with small groups of 1 to 10 people under the cover of fog—using the now-typical “human wave” tactic. Most are eliminated by scouts while still in the gray zone. The rest are taken out in close combat.
In addition, the enemy has concentrated elite FPV drone units in this sector, attempting to establish air superiority. However, thanks to an integrated short-range air defense system and the skill of Ukrainian pilots, the skies remain under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
The GUR special unit “Artan” is crushing the enemy in the Stepnogorsk area on the Zaporizhzhia front
❌several hundred occupiers have been eliminated
, over 20 pieces of armored vehicles—tanks, IFVs, and scarce electronic warfare equipment
—have been captured from the invaders, who were seized right from within the city’s built-up areas. pic.twitter.com/b6SFHkQ8pO— GLAVCOM (@GLAVCOM_UA) April 13, 2026
“The recapture of Stepnogorsk straightens the front line, deprives the enemy of a foothold that could have been used to advance on Zaporizhzhia, and expands the zones of fire control over the occupiers’ logistics. Most importantly, it deals a blow to the morale of those Russian units that the enemy considered elite,” the statement reads.
The GUR destroyed the last Russian railway ferry in the Kerch Strait.
Earlier, the Ukrainian Defense Forces successfully thwarted another attempt by Russian troops to cross the Bakhmutka River, destroying the enemy’s crossing before it could be put into operation.
Soldiers from the Raid Regiment of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine detected and destroyed an enemy communications antenna on the front lines that was tuned to Gazprom’s Yamal-601 satellite.
