Russian forces seek to isolate Zaporizhzhia by striking bridges, dams, Ukrainian commander says

A Ukrainian commander says Russian forces are striking bridges and dams around Zaporizhzhia to disrupt supplies and isolate the city. He warned that a blockade could precede an attempt to bypass Zaporizhzhia from the north and advance towards Dnipro, while putting further pressure on Ukraine’s defences.

Yevhen Lasiychuk said the threat is developing from the south, near Orikhiv, and the east, near Huliaipole. He estimated that about 50,000 Russian troops were deployed in the Huliaipole direction and said assaults there tripled in October compared with September; around 75% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is already occupied, according to cited territorial data. Lasiychuk said a new Russian advance could force Ukraine to divert troops from Donetsk Oblast and warned that losing Zaporizhzhia would be comparable to losing Donbas.