Defence forces refute Russian claims of clearing Orikhiv and Preobrazhenka

Enemy strategic goals by end of October

Russian military leadership has formulated a specific task for its units: to seize control of Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka and Tavriiske in Zaporizhzhia Oblast by the end of the current month. This was reported by Anastasiia Shevchenko, deputy spokesperson for the 'South' Group of Forces.

According to her, Ukrainian defenders are successfully sabotaging these plans, inflicting significant losses on the enemy. "According to available information, the Russian command has set a task to capture Orikhiv, Preobrazhenka and Tavriiske by the end of October. However, our units are successfully disrupting the Russians' plans. The enemy is suffering significant losses here," she emphasised.

Infiltration tactics and their failure

Shevchenko explained that the enemy is attempting to penetrate Orikhiv in small groups consisting of a maximum of two people. These servicemen are trying to sneak into the city unnoticed, accumulate forces and create preconditions for further advance.

However, according to the Ukrainian side, this tactic is being effectively blocked. "However, they (the occupiers - ed.) are not succeeding, as the units of the 'South' Group of Forces detect them in a timely manner, track their movements and inflict damage both in the suburbs and directly within the city limits," the deputy spokesperson said.

Refutation of data on the 'clearing' of cities

Meanwhile, Russian military personnel are submitting reports to their command about the alleged clearing of 50% of Orikhiv of Ukrainian forces. Specifically, it is claimed that 2,800 buildings have been cleared, and more than 150 Russian Federation servicemen are present in the city.

The Ukrainian side calls this data fake. The fact of intensive use of aviation is cited as an argument. "These are fake reports. This is evidenced, among other things, by the shelling of the settlement by the Russians. Only last evening, on 16 October, the Russians dropped 16 KABs on the city. It is enough to have critical thinking to understand that if the information presented by the Russians about control over Orikhiv were reliable, aviation would not be used in such numbers against the city," Shevchenko noted.

A similar situation is observed in Preobrazhenka. There, Russian military personnel reported the clearing of 754 buildings and the presence of 56 of their fighters. "This information is also false. The enemy greatly exaggerates its 'achievements', forces and means. Infiltration groups are indeed trying to sneak into Orikhiv and Preobrazhenka, but our units successfully detect and destroy them. The enemy is unable to accumulate there, advance, or achieve any tactical success," the Defence Forces representative assured.

Enemy losses in October

The deputy spokesperson added that since the beginning of October, units of the 'South' Group of Forces have destroyed 2,760 occupiers, as well as 1,150 units of weapons and military equipment.