Russia’s two-pronged Orikhiv assault collapses as Ukrainian drones dominate

The fighting around Orikhiv has entered a critical phase, with Russia attempting to reshape the entire tactical geometry of the southern front. Moscow’s commanders are seeking not merely a local breakthrough, but a positional advantage that would enable a broader push toward the heart of Ukraine’s Zaporizhia defenses. Control of Orikhiv would give Russia a forward base for massing armor, projecting firepower, and launching deeper assaults toward Komyshuvakha and beyond. To achieve this, Russian forces have begun experimenting with multi-axis mechanized attacks designed to stretch Ukrainian defenses and create openings through deception and pressure. The approach hinges on pinning Ukrainian brigades in place while maneuvering around their flanks, a tactic that relies heavily on timing, cohesion, and the ability to conceal the true axis of advance. Yet the battlefield terrain, the density of Ukrainian fortifications, and Kyiv’s surveillance dominance are rapidly exposing whether this strategy can succeed—or whether it is setting Russian forces up for another costly failure.

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