Russian occupation forces are approximately 30 kilometers from Zaporizhia, but their advance to the city's borders by the end of the year is unlikely without a large-scale breakthrough, a senior NATO official in Brussels said.
According to him, Russian forces continue to move south along the highway connecting Pokrovsk in Donetsk region and Hulyaipole in Zaporizhia region. He specified that Russian troops have reached the city of Dobropillya, located approximately 12 kilometers from the city limits, and are advancing west along a front of several kilometers.
“ And, as reported, they have already reached the outskirts of Hulyaipol ,” the Alliance representative noted.
He added that such actions have temporarily strengthened Ukrainian defenses east of Zaporizhia. At the same time, the city, he said, is “under threat of encirclement from the north as Russian troops advance west.”
Despite this, the interlocutor emphasized that the resources and balance of forces of the Russian Federation are not yet sufficient for a decisive breakthrough.
“ The balance of power in Zaporizhia, as before, favors Russia in priority areas, but this is not enough for a decisive breakthrough, especially considering that the Russian Armed Forces are advancing into urban areas ,” the official emphasized.
