What Ukraine risks if Huliaipole falls: Expert warns of dangerous Russian maneuver

Russia is moving to semi-encircle Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia region, trying to push Ukrainian forces out. Losing the city would open the way for a Russian advance toward Zaporizhzhia.

Military analyst Denys Popovych said this during a broadcast on “KYIV24.”

“As for fortifications, the enemy is bypassing them. This is what makes advances toward Huliaipole and Orikhiv dangerous, as well as the creation of positions for a possible future push toward Zaporizhzhia — in a week, a month, or two months. The main defensive lines are concentrated in the south. A strike from the east is problematic because the defensive structures there are not as strong as those further south,” the analyst stresses.

Popovych adds that the situation near Huliaipole is mirroring the pattern seen in the Pokrovsk–Myrnohrad urban area.

He also stresses that the developments around Huliaipole “did not emerge yesterday, or even in October when Russian forces stepped up activity there.” According to the analyst, these are the consequences of the fall of Vuhledar and the broader situation on the southern Donetsk axis.

“That’s the source of the threat,” he warned.

Popovych says that if Huliaipole falls, the next push will be toward Zaporizhzhia and Orikhiv.

“Their goal is to create the conditions for launching offensive operations directly against the regional center at some point in the future. We cannot predict when this may happen, but this movement is laying the groundwork for a potential threat to Zaporizhzhia,” Popovych stressed.