Closer-up view of the approximate situation in Orikhiv, where Ukrainian forces are coming close to re-establishing full control over the city: In mid-August, following a series of DRG infiltrations, the Russian command initiated a series of assault operations on Orikhiv, infiltrating through Novodanylivka into the city. After weeks of fighting they managed to gain a foothold in the southeastern streets and begin infiltrating towards the city centre. In response to the threat of losing this critical city - which is crucial to the overall defence of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Zaporizhzhia City - the Ukrainian command deployed reinforcements to the city and the areas further northeast in early-September, in order to carry out a series of counterattacks. These counterattacks began with clearing operations of the infiltration zone in mid-September, and by the end of September, they had regained the initiative in most of the sector, working heavily to cut off Russian reinforcements leading to the front with drones, while using small assault groups to engage Russian infiltrators on the ground. As for the current situation, after pushing the Russians away from city centre and shifting the fighting back to the southeastern part of the city, Ukrainian forces began a blocking maneuver from the flanks, which Russia had been unable to secure during the initial storming operations in August and September. From the east, Ukrainian assault groups cleared the western part of Mala Tokmachka and the nearby railway. From the west, they cleared some positions south of Orikhiv and increased their presence in the outer streets of Novodanylivka. From there, they are attempting to link up and re-establish control over the forests at the cross-roads of Orikhiv, Mala Tokmachka, and Novodanylivka. Essentially, anyone who controls these forests - which are important for accumulation of infantry - and are located directly between these three settlements, will have a significant advantage. Capturing these forests was one of the first tasks assigned to the Russian assault groups in August, and they were able to establish control over it for infantry accumulations for a period of time. However, it has since shifted back largely into the grey-zone after Ukrainian forces recaptured the areas to the east and west of them, with some positions even being re-established along its northern edge. In response, Russia attempted to bring in at least 20 more soldiers into Novodanylivka with transport vehicles earlier this week. It's unclear how many survived and if they will be able to resume assaults on the Orikhiv area in the near future. It's likely that within Orikhiv itself, there are no more than 20 Russian soldiers present at the time of writing. They still have the ability to withdraw through the grey-zone, using the cover of forests and built-up areas to escape. But, it now seems that any successful Russian storming operation on the city will not come before the end of 2026.