Ukraine’s Assault Troops Smash Russian Lines, Raise Flag Over Liberated Village in Zaporizhzhia

Ukrainian assault troops have recaptured the village of Mali Shcherbaky in the Zaporizhzhia region, marking a tactical advance on one of the most contested sections of the southern front.

The 24th Separate Assault Battalion “Aidar,” operating alongside the 33rd Separate Assault Regiment, raised the Ukrainian flag in the settlement on October 12, according to a statement from Aidar’s press service.

“The settlement of Mali Shcherbaky is under the control of the Defense Forces of Ukraine,” the battalion said, emphasizing that the operation was achieved through “coordinated action and determination.”

Colonel Valentyn Manko, head of the Assault Forces Directorate of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, confirmed the liberation and reported continued operations in nearby areas.

According to Manko, Ukrainian forces advanced approximately 3.5 kilometers in depth and more than 5 kilometers along the front line.

The units also cleared the nearby village of Shcherbaky, surrounding territories, and partially liberated the settlement of Stepove. Visual evidence released by Aidar shows Ukrainian troops conducting clearance operations and securing the area.

Earlier, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that Ukraine’s Dobropillia counteroffensive remains active, with over 180 square kilometers liberated and more than 200 square kilometers cleared of Russian forces in Donetsk region.

During a field visit, Syrskyi met with unit commanders, identified key operational needs, and ordered continued counter-sabotage operations and defensive measures to secure logistics and critical infrastructure.

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