Russian troops have approached Hulyaipol, one of the key defense hubs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Zaporizhia direction. During the full-scale invasion of 2022, the city held back the Russian onslaught and helped defend Zaporizhia.
In recent weeks, the Russians have advanced 10–12 km, approaching Hulyaipol by 4–5 km. They are trying not to attack the city directly, but to block the main logistics routes of Ukrainian units. In particular, we are talking about the area of the village of Varvarivka and the highway towards Pokrovsky in the Dnipropetrovsk region.
In early October, Russian troops engaged in heavy fighting for the Uspeniv bridgehead on the Yanchur River, and despite Ukrainian resistance, they managed to capture several settlements. As a result, the Ukrainian Armed Forces temporarily withdrew from some villages to avoid being surrounded and positioned themselves on more advantageous lines.
Analysts say a direct assault on Hulyaipol is unlikely at this time. Most likely, the Russians will continue to shell the city and logistical routes, using artillery and drones. However, Hulyaipol has a water obstacle - the Gaichur River, which makes it difficult for the enemy to cross.
The Ukrainian command assures that the Russian advance in this direction has been generally stopped. The situation in the Hulyaipil, Oleksandrivka, and Novopavlivka directions has been stabilized, and further enemy advance is limited.
Before the war, about 16 thousand people lived in the city, now only about 500 remain. At the end of September 2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Hulyaipol the honorary title of "hero city".
