On November 11, spokesman for the Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces - Mr. Vladyslav Voloshyn - admitted that the Ukrainian army had withdrawn from some positions near settlements in the Zaporizhzhia province.
According to Voloshyn, Ukraine has completely withdrawn from Uspenivka and Novomykolaivka, while five fights are still ongoing in Yablukove and three to four other locations in Zaporizhzhia.
In an interview with local media, Voloshyn said the Russian army was trying to advance northeast of Huliaipole and Orikhiv, in the frontline area of Zaporizhzhia province.
According to Mr. Voloshyn, Ukrainian soldiers stationed in Orikhiv and Huliaipole have to endure up to 50 clashes each day, with consecutive attacks and incursions by the Russian army. Russia's goal here is to cut off the supply route from Pokrovske village, Dnipro province.
"The enemy is carrying out dense fire attacks on our position. In fact, they have destroyed all the existing infrastructure and shelters, forcing us to withdraw from some locations in many settlements, or to the two sides, or further into the defense line, Voloshyn said.
The spokesman said that Russian forces are trying to penetrate Ukrainian positions to continue advancing. The current situation is quite difficult, Voloshyn admitted.
Mr. Voloshyn added that Russia is taking advantage of the weather to move in small groups, walking or using motorbikes. At the same time, unfavorable weather conditions prevented the Ukrainian army from using UAVs to effectively fight off.
On the same day, Ukrainian military Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian forces had taken control of three settlements in Zaporizhzhia.
The Russian military has stepped up its operations in Zaporizhzhia province, taking advantage of the weather and thick fog to squeeze between Ukrainian positions, Syrskyi wrote on Telegram, adding that the situation has deteriorated significantly in the direction of Oleksandrive and Huliaipole, where the enemy are taking advantage of their advantage in terms of numbers.
Moscow now controls about 70% of Zaporizhzhia province, and continues its offensive in neighboring provinces of Dnipro and Donetsk. One of Russia's key targets in recent months has been the city of Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast.
