Russia deploys airborne troops to Orikhiv direction to boost assaults
Illustrative photo: Russia will reinforce one of the directions with paratroopers (Getty Images)
Russian forces are actively redeploying their elite airborne assault units, stated Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces.
Voloshyn said Russian forces have begun withdrawing airborne units from the Prydniprovskyi and Kherson directions and transferring them to the Zaporizhzhia region, specifically to the Orikhiv direction.
The arrival of units from the 299th and 219th Airborne Regiments has been confirmed. Their main task is to maintain the momentum and intensity of Russian assault operations in this direction.
At the same time, Russian forces are withdrawing battered units that previously took part in assaults on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Voloshyn noted that these units will need time to restore their combat capability, adding that he expects the newly deployed enemy units to face the same fate.
Earlier, Voloshyn reported that Russia had also begun transferring elite airborne troops to another sector in the Zaporizhzhia region — the Huliaipole direction. The redeployment of airborne units there indicates heavy Russian losses along that section of the front.
According to Voloshyn, Russian forces have been concentrating manpower near forward positions for some time in preparation for launching assault operations toward Orikhiv. This is one of the key directions for Russia, as it plans to intensify its offensive in the Zaporizhzhia region in 2026.
On January 22 alone, 222 combat clashes were recorded along the front line. The Pokrovsk direction remains the hottest sector, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 94 attacks. Another 37 enemy assaults were repelled in the Huliaipole direction, which is currently the second-most intense area of fighting.
