Fighting around the town of Huliaipole remains intense, and this week brought an uncomfortable but important admission from Ukraine’s military leadership: Russian troops did manage to briefly capture a Ukrainian command and observation post during recent clashes.
Speaking publicly about the incident, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, confirmed that the position was lost after heavy pressure on a Territorial Defense unit holding the area.
According to Syrskyi, the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade was forced to pull back during sustained fighting, which allowed Russian forces to enter the site.
This wasn’t a collapse of the entire line, but it was a serious lapse. Syrskyi explained that Ukrainian assault units were already moving in to reinforce the area, including elements of the 5th Assault Brigade.
At one point, Ukrainian troops were reportedly just a couple of streets away from the command post when it was abandoned.
Because of the sensitivity of what may have been left behind, Ukraine’s Military Law Enforcement Service has launched an investigation. Syrskyi said there had been standing orders to establish a circular defense and destroy anything valuable or containing sensitive information before withdrawing.
Whether those orders were properly carried out is now part of the legal review of the battalion command’s decisions.
At the same time, Ukrainian leadership was careful to stress that the broader defensive situation has not collapsed. The 225th Assault Regiment continues to hold positions in and around Huliaipole, conducting counterattacks and maintaining defensive lines despite constant pressure.
Syrskyi acknowledged that Territorial Defense units pulling back can disrupt stability, but said reinforcements and corrective measures are already in place.
Importantly, Ukrainian commanders say Russia has failed to gain meaningful ground in this sector for over a month. Russian forces continue daily assault attempts but are taking heavy losses in the process, with no clear breakthrough.
The issue gained public attention after a video circulated on Russian-linked Telegram channels claiming to show the captured command post. The footage appeared to show abandoned equipment, maps, communication devices, and even an unlocked phone inside the building.
Ukrainian Southern Defense Forces quickly announced that the video is being verified, including whether the footage is authentic and how it was obtained.
Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn described the situation in Huliaipole as extremely difficult. Russian units are continuing assault operations, attempting to infiltrate small groups into the town, and trying to disrupt Ukrainian supply routes, particularly those coming from the Dnipropetrovsk direction.
For Ukraine, the incident is both a tactical setback and a reminder of how thin margins can be in prolonged frontline fighting. For Russia, it appears to be more of a propaganda moment than a strategic gain. The battle for Huliaipole is ongoing, and for now, the line is still holding.
As with many moments in this war, the real story isn’t the brief loss of a position, but what happens after.
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