Russian military analyst Andrey Demurenko stated on 23 September that it is premature to claim Russian forces have established full control over Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Demurenko, a retired colonel of the Russian General Staff, told Russian news outlet Lenta.ru that it is definitely wrong to wave flags and declare that troops have won or that Orikhiv is entirely taken, adding that this is not yet the case.
He explained that Orikhiv remains an important stronghold and logistics hub for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to Demurenko, Russian units are currently biting into the city from its flanks rather than holding complete control over the urban area.
Fighting around Orikhiv and Novoandriivka
The expert's assessment follows recent military activity in the surrounding Zaporizhzhia district. The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported that its forces had taken control of Novoandriivka, a village situated in Zaporizhzhia Oblast near Orikhiv.
According to the defense ministry, the operation to secure Novoandriivka was carried out by units belonging to the Dnepr group of forces. The regional sector has been a focus of intense tactical positioning as forces maneuver for operational advantage.
Strategic role of regional forces
The Dnepr group of forces operates as one of the major operational formations of the Russian military in southern Ukraine. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation functions as the central executive body managing strategic military planning and deployment decisions across the active operational zones.
Orikhiv sits at a strategic crossroad in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, making control of the settlement critical for transport lines and supply routes in the region. Ukrainian forces continue to utilize the town as a fortified position to maintain defensive networks in the sector.
With Russian troops pushing against the flanks of Orikhiv following the capture of Novoandriivka, analyst Demurenko indicated that military operations in the area remain ongoing and that full control of the town has not been achieved.
