Russia May Launch New Offensive in the South as Early as Next Week, Ukrainian Officials Say

Russian forces are actively preparing for a new offensive operation, according to Petro Andriushchenko, advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, on October 18.

He noted an increase in preparatory activities in Ukrainian occupied territories, particularly at training grounds around Mariupol and in the Berdyansk area.

"They are currently in an active phase of preparation. The Russians are observing an operational pause, allowing them to accumulate and organize specific groupings for an attacking 'fist.' They are assessing where to direct their efforts. We believe the next offensive operation from the Russian side could occur next week—at the earliest, possibly even later," he stated.

"This week, we’ve noticed a slight slowdown in movement, but at the end of last week, there was an active phase of troop movements. This indicates that fully formed, trained, and coordinated units are entering from Russian territory. Some are remaining in the Mariupol district, while others are in the Volnovakha area. They are keeping their distance from the front lines, meaning this is not a rotation; it's the accumulation of reserves for future offensive operations," he added.

He further noted that the command has not yet decided where to deploy these units, which is why their equipment remains unmarked.

It was reported on October 9 that Russian forces may launch offensive operations in the Zaporizhzhia direction within a week, and are now conducting reconnaissance operations, RBK-Ukraine stated citing spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn.

Currently, the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk region remains one of the most difficult directions in Ukraine, with heavy fighting continuing. The Russian forces set the goal of capturing the city of Pokrovsk, which is an important logistical and defense center.