Commander Warns Russian Groups Could Reach Zaporizhzhia

Small Russian infantry groups could reach Zaporizhzhia this winter, the commander of Ukraine’s 1st Separate Assault Regiment, Dmytro Filatov, said in an interview with the Real Front YouTube channel.Filatov, known by his call sign “Perun,” said Russia could intensify offensive operations during the winter and search for weak points in Ukrainian defenses.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.“I think that this winter we will record the approach and entry into Zaporizhzhia – not of troops, but of individual groups,” Filatov said.He identified the Stepnohirske area and the Dnipro River’s southern bank as possible directions for such attempts. According to the commander, dense development along the river could help Russian troops infiltrate toward the city.Filatov said Russian forces had come close to Zaporizhzhia last year. He warned that even the appearance of isolated groups near the city could have a major psychological effect on Ukraine’s partners and encourage the Russian military and President Vladimir Putin.Filatov warns of wider Russian pressureFilatov said worsening weather could allow Russian forces to increase pressure across the entire front line.He said some Russian units had already been transferred to the Dobropillia direction, where they are attempting to advance toward Kramatorsk. According to Filatov, Russia is also trying to shift Ukraine’s attention toward Donbas and force Kyiv to redeploy troops from other sectors. Other Topics of Interest Russian Ex-Mayor Who Left Prison for Ukraine War Dies From Combat Wounds Former Belgorod Mayor Konstantin Polezhayev joined Russia’s military after receiving a five-year sentence for accepting a multimillion-ruble bribe. “On the Zaporizhzhia front, the number of strikes and sorties has decreased – the intensity has fallen. Yes, we are operating less on this sector. I think the enemy’s redeployment to other directions is part of its strategy in response to our actions here,” Filatov said.He argued that Ukraine must strengthen its defenses in Donbas while preserving the initiative and continuing to pressure Russian weak points.Filatov said Russia’s initial objective in the Zaporizhzhia region was to encircle and capture Orikhiv, before advancing toward Zaporizhzhia. Capturing the city would allow Russia to block one of Ukraine’s major industrial centers, which has a degree of energy autonomy because of its hydroelectric power plant. Ukrainian forces, however, managed to stop the Russian advance.Southern Grouping rejects imminent-entry claimsThe Southern Grouping of Ukrainian forces rejected reports that Russian troops are likely to directly enter Zaporizhzhia this winter.“There are currently no grounds to speak of a high probability of such a development,” Anastasiia Shevchenko, a spokesperson for the Southern Grouping, told Ukrinform.Shevchenko said the front line is about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Zaporizhzhia, making a covert advance over that distance highly unlikely. Ukrainian drone systems monitor Russian personnel and direct fire toward detected groups.She also said there have been no changes in Russian military activity indicating preparations for a direct entry into the city. Russia has not abandoned its goal of capturing Zaporizhzhia, she said, but currently lacks sufficient forces and equipment to advance directly toward it.Ukrainian forces have recorded attempts by small Russian infantry groups to infiltrate near Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, and Shcherbaky in the Orikhiv direction. Shevchenko said those attempts had not succeeded.Similar warnings were made last yearThe latest warning echoes reports and forecasts made during Russia’s advances in the southern Zaporizhzhia region last year.Russia had concentrated assault formations near Orikhiv after advancing through the Hulyaipole area. Russian forces captured Hulyaipole in early 2026 and then pushed toward Orikhiv, increasing pressure on the route to Zaporizhzhia.Late last year, Russian forces also had intensified attacks around Hulyaipole, including attempts to break through and advance deeper into the region.A recent Kyiv Post opinion analysis described Russian pressure on Orikhiv from several directions and attempts to use forward positions to threaten Ukrainian supply routes.However, those warnings did not mean that Russia was certain to capture Zaporizhzhia, rather described a possible military route and potential risks. The same applies to Filatov’s current prediction: individual Russian groups could attempt to approach the city, but there is no confirmation that Russia is preparing or capable of capturing Zaporizhzhia.For now, the Southern Grouping says the threat is being monitored, while Ukrainian forces continue to block Russian infiltration attempts along the Orikhiv and Stepnohirske sectors. Yuliia Zavadska is a news writer at Kyiv Post. She has experience in breaking news coverage, fact-checking, and digital journalism, with a focus on fast, accurate reporting and clear storytelling. Before joining Kyiv Post, she worked as a news feed editor for several leading Ukrainian media outlets.