Ukrainian reinforcements rescue Orikhiv and stop the Russian offensive

Today, the biggest updates are coming from the Orikhiv direction.

Here, Ukrainian high command has rapidly sent reinforcements to the Orikhiv sector to hold Ukrainian lines and counter the Russian efforts to encircle Orikhiv. Russians recently significantly intensified their offensive efforts in the sector, and managed to capture important territory around the town of Orikhiv. Orikhiv stands central in the region and forms a major logistics node stretching in all directions. However, the use of the town has degraded significantly over the past years due to the intense Russian shelling and proximity to the frontline preventing much movement of logistics.

An officer of Ukraine’s sixty-fifth Velikyi Luh mechanized brigade reported that further Russian infiltration attempts into Orikhiv itself have been countered, with the help of additional assault forces now deployed to the sector. He discusses that they have significantly expanded their kill zone and are targeting the logistics of the Russian force concentration with renewed intensity. He also notes that Russians have deployed a force grouping of over one hundred fifty thousand soldiers in this sector, including one hundred twenty dedicated assault groups.

Ukrainian lines have now in turn been reinforced by several detachments of Ukrainian airborne brigades, after they had completed their rotation during recent successful Ukrainian counterattacks in other parts of the southern and eastern frontlines. The Velikyi Luh commander added that they have now identified and fixed certain issues with their equipment, drones, and electronic warfare systems.

This means that Russians had likely been able to identify and successfully disrupt the frequencies Ukrainian drones were operating on, allowing their recent advances to meet reduced Ukrainian resistance. However, the fact that Ukrainians have now solved these issues means that the Russian units that advanced only because Ukrainian drones were jammed, will now become wide-open targets for the drones again.

Geolocated footage shows Ukrainian Vampire bomber drones operating at scale in Orikhiv itself, dropping heavy explosives on Russian infiltrators’ positions below. FPV strikes show Ukrainians hitting Russian positions themselves in Mala Tokmachka, striking force concentrations preparing to infiltrate into Orikhiv. Additionally, Ukrainian airborne reinforcements guided glide bomb strikes onto Russian positions in the fields on the eastern flank. Ukrainian airstrikes also hit Russian crossing points and bridges over the river and anti-tank ditches, complicating rapid movement of reinforcements with motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles for Russian soldiers.

As a result of the recent reinforcements of Ukrainian lines and the renewed activity of Ukrainian drone operators, Russian forces have failed to report any new advances since the last update in the sector. Fighting is reportedly still ongoing inside Orikhiv itself, with Russians continuing to attempt deeper infiltration efforts on the flanks. Most notably however on the western flank, the fighting has already shifted away from the settlements of Yurivka and Tavriiske; where Russian infiltrators had earlier been able to establish positions, indicating that Russians are no longer able to reach this far into the Ukrainian rear. 

As it is likely becoming clear to Russian field commanders on the ground that they will not be able to maintain their pincer effort on the Ukrainian flanks for much longer, Russians are redirecting their focus onto Orikhiv itself. Russian sources have shared footage of their soldiers supposedly capturing the settlement of Novoandriivka to the south. However with not so much as a flag waving operation or any other confirmed Russian presence in the town, the settlement likely remains under Ukrainian control. Failing Russian efforts to establish another angle of attack into Orikhiv is going to allow Ukrainian defenders to concentrate their efforts on Russian infiltrators in Orikhiv itself, and cutting off their access to the town.

Overall, with new reinforcements deployed into the sector and the drone kill zone reestablished and even expanded, Ukrainians have managed to halt the Russian advance. While the situation on the ground remains difficult, with Russian infiltrators and strikes putting pressure on important points in the Ukrainian defense, a rapid encirclement or collapse has been prevented. Now it is up to Ukrainians to push back Russian pincering efforts on the flanks, and clear out Orikhiv and Mala Tokmachka of the Russian presence.