Russia Launches New Offensive in Zaporizhzhia Region

Russian forces have launched a renewed offensive in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, advancing into the northern part of the town of Kamianske over the weekend. The settlement, with a pre-war population of around 2,000, has remained divided between Ukrainian and Russian control since early 2022.

Footage shared on social media Sunday showed Russian troops raising the Russian flag in the northern sector of the town, an area that had previously served as a demarcation point between the two sides. For much of the war, the Yanchekrak River—once fed by the now-destroyed Kakhovka Reservoir—marked the frontline in Kamianske. However, the riverbed dried up after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in 2023, altering the terrain and potentially opening new avenues for movement.

The town had previously functioned as a critical crossing point between Russian- and Ukrainian-held territories. The bridge spanning the Yanchekrak was used by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors and, until late 2022, by civilians seeking to cross the front lines.

By Sunday night, both Ukrainian and Russian sources confirmed that Russian forces had reached the northern outskirts of the town. It remains unclear whether the entirety of Kamianske has fallen under Russian control.

Kamianske, along with Orikhiv and Hulyaipole, forms part of Ukraine’s primary defensive line in the Zaporizhzhia region. These towns have remained largely static in terms of territorial control since late March 2022.

While it is still uncertain whether the current assault represents a localized tactical maneuver or the start of a broader offensive, Ukrainian military and intelligence officials have recently warned of significant Russian troop and armor movements toward the Zaporizhzhia axis.

Control of northern Kamianske would give Russian forces a strategic vantage point over the surrounding area. The elevated terrain would allow Russian artillery to target logistics routes leading into Zaporizhzhia city, located roughly 15 miles (24 kilometers) to the north.

The renewed ground assault coincided with a massive wave of Russian missile and drone strikes across Ukraine on Saturday night and into Sunday. The Ukrainian military reported that a Western-supplied F-16 fighter jet crashed during an interception mission in western Ukraine, killing the pilot. The circumstances surrounding the crash are under investigation.