Russian Forces Halt Buildup but Continue Rotations on Southern Front

On the southern front of Ukraine, Russian forces have stopped increasing their troop numbers but are still conducting rotations to replace loss-depleted units, according to Ukrainian military officials. Press secretary of Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn stated that the enemy is not accumulating fresh forces and equipment, but is rotating units involved in assault operations that have become exhausted. He stressed that while there is no evidence of new reserves being brought in, rotations are definitely ongoing.

The front remains highly active with frequent clashes and heavy use of artillery, aviation, and various drones by Russian forces as they attempt to expand their so-called "control zone." Over the past day, the Huliaypole direction saw 22 combat engagements, while Orikhiv and Oleksandrivka directions each experienced five clashes. The most intense fighting occurred near the settlement of Stepnohirsk, where Ukrainian forces are conducting active operations to destroy the enemy and regain lost positions, while Russian troops aim to establish control over Stepnohirsk and advance along the shore of the former Kakhovka Reservoir toward Zaporizhzhia.

In the Malyi Shcherbaky and Shcherbaky area, Russian troops attempted to infiltrate through a pipe but were eliminated. Near Orikhiv, occupiers persist in trying to reach the outskirts but continue shelling the town. Further east, the most active assaults are near Charivne on the Huliaypole axis, with over a dozen clashes recorded in the past day. Ukrainian defenders also repelled multiple attacks and continue to hold defensive lines despite intense pressure.

Voloshyn noted that Russian troops are still capable of replenishing losses through rotations and that artillery strikes on Russian logistics routes have constrained their artillery use on some front sectors, forcing units like the 36th Army to limit ammunition expenditure. The situation remains tense, with fierce battles ongoing across multiple sectors of the southern front, though no significant buildup of new forces has been observed.