Airborne Corps Commander: Russia Is Preparing a Logistics Blockade of Zaporizhzhia from the Gulyaipole Axis

Yevhen Lasiichuk, a Hero of Ukraine and commander of the 7th Corps of Ukraine's Air Assault Forces, described the situation on the Huliaipole axis in Zaporizhzhia region in an interview with the outlet Ukrainska Pravda. His corps headquarters has worked there for several months. Last year he was in charge of the defence of Pokrovsk in Donetsk region. In his assessment, Russia's goal is Zaporizhzhia itself, and the preparatory stage of a transport blockade of the city is already under way.

Russian tactics

The commander says Russian forces are striking bridges and dams with guided aerial bombs (KABs), damaging infrastructure including power supply, and destroying heavy trucks to block routes. FPV drones have already reached the city centre. Preliminary estimates put about 50,000 enemy troops on the Huliaipole axis. Russian infiltrators have been found as deep as 15 kilometres, but those sent to plant a flag usually surrender without a fight. Mechanised assaults have also been seen over the past two months.

Lasiichuk believes Russia wants to bypass Zaporizhzhia from the north after the blockade and reach the Dnipro. He says losing Zaporizhzhia would be comparable to losing Donbas, though this axis could also be a diversion meant to pull Ukrainian forces away from Donbas.

Coordination and air defence

The corps includes the 5th and 92nd assault brigades and the 225th regiment, while the other brigades come from other branches. To align them, a single situational awareness system, Delta, was introduced, along with a joint electronic warfare and air defence centre. The corps now detects 400–500 aerial targets a day, up from 200 at the start. About 70% are confirmed destroyed, 20% suppressed and roughly 10% reach their targets. KABs are not included in these figures. In October, 200 such bombs hit a single settlement.

Assault units and a possible freeze

Lasiichuk calls the 225th regiment an effective unit, acknowledging the reports about its treatment of personnel. He thinks assault units are better kept within existing corps. On a possible freeze of the front line, he said he would like to capture Huliaipole beforehand; his corps' line of contact is almost 100 kilometres long. He considers the decision to rely on middle-strike drones the right one.