Eight months without rotation—soldiers from the 225th Separate Motorized Rifle Battalion have returned from the front lines
Soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment spent more than eight months holding their position in the Zaporizhzhia sector. It was so close to Russian troops that the Ukrainian soldiers could hear their movements and conversations. Evacuating the defenders earlier would have been too dangerous, so they remained at their position for over 200 days.
Soldiers of the 225th Separate Assault Regiment have finally left their position in the Zaporizhzhia sector, which they had held for over eight months. The regiment itself reported this and shared footage of the soldiers’ return. The soldiers took up their positions in early spring, when it was still cold. They withdrew in the summer, during a severe heat wave.
Throughout this time, the position remained practically right up against the enemy. Because of this, a conventional evacuation was nearly impossible. Any attempt to withdraw the troops could have posed a serious threat both to the soldiers themselves and to those tasked with retrieving them. Therefore, for over 200 days, Ukrainian defenders held their ground on their own and repelled Russian attacks.
Over 200 days under constant pressure
During this time, Russian forces repeatedly attempted to breach the Ukrainian position. Soldiers of the 225th Separate Airborne Brigade repelled these attacks and took Russians prisoner. The distance to the enemy was so short that Ukrainian troops could hear the Russians moving and even their conversations. Drones played a major role in defending the position. Reconnaissance drones helped monitor the enemy’s movements and detect their attempts to advance in a timely manner.
Attack drones, in turn, supported Ukrainian troops during combat. Supply remained a challenge. Due to the dangerous situation, it was practically impossible to deliver everything the troops needed by conventional means. Therefore, food, water, and ammunition were delivered primarily via drones.
What the Soldiers Said Upon Their Return
After their evacuation, the soldiers described what those months were like at their positions. They cited the heat as one of the toughest challenges. The shortage of drinking water was particularly acute. According to one of the soldiers, they tried to meet their basic needs through deliveries. But at certain moments, what they wanted most of all was water. Among the other items they lacked, the soldiers mentioned cigarettes and sweets.
Despite the difficult conditions, communication with command remained uninterrupted. The soldiers stayed in touch, and their comrades tried to send them everything they needed. The soldiers say they did not feel abandoned. When the Russians intensified their pressure, attack drones flew in to help. “Attack drones flew in to provide support,” said one of the soldiers.
Ukrainian soldiers also spoke about the Russians they had taken prisoner. According to one of the soldiers, some prisoners immediately claimed that they did not want to fight or that they had allegedly ended up at Ukrainian positions by accident. He said the Russians’ explanations were often very similar.
How the evacuation took place
Leaving the position itself was also a difficult task. The soldiers had to move through a narrow passage between the trees. They had to advance quietly and very carefully. The soldiers followed a route that had been provided to them in advance.
The Russians were monitoring the surrounding area using drones and patrols. Therefore, any careless movement could have attracted the enemy’s attention. The soldiers gradually made their way through the dangerous section and exited the position. After more than 200 days on the front lines, they finally found themselves in a safer place.
“We realized we’re capable of more”
Upon their return, the soldiers were asked what they had learned about themselves over those eight months. They replied that they had discovered strengths within themselves that they hadn’t even suspected existed before. Their prolonged stay in such conditions forced them to constantly push themselves to the limits of their abilities. But upon their return, their thoughts were no longer on combat missions.
One soldier’s greatest wish was to take leave and reunite with his wife and son. He called the chance to see his loved ones the best reward after such a long time on the front lines. The soldiers stayed in touch with their families whenever possible. They sent voice messages to their loved ones. According to the soldiers, thoughts of their loved ones helped them hold on all those months. The realization that their families were waiting for them at home gave them the strength to continue the defense even in the most difficult moments.
First conversation with loved ones after evacuation
A special moment was shown at the end of the 225th OSHP video. Immediately after the evacuation, one of the soldiers called his mother. During the call, he reported that he was alive, although he had sustained a shrapnel wound. The soldier said he was waiting to be transported to a hospital.
After months on the front lines, his plans were very simple. The soldiers wanted to rest, wash up, eat a proper meal, and talk to their families. For people who had spent more than 200 days in a position literally right next to the enemy, these ordinary things became especially important. The colonel described this and spoke with the soldiers after their evacuation.
On the night of September 11, the Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Saratov Oil Refinery in Russia. Fires were reported on the refinery’s grounds following the attack.
As of the morning of September 10, 2026, the Russian army’s total personnel losses since the start of the full-scale invasion amount to approximately 1,502,390 soldiers. In the past 24 hours alone, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russia lost another 1,520 servicemen.
