Ukraine Halts Russian Advance at Huliaipole, a Town With a Revolutionary Past

For many months, the main focus of Russian assaults has been two directions—the cities of Pokrovsk and Kupiansk. However, in the fall of 2025, Russian forces began active assault operations in areas that had previously seen far fewer clashes—specifically in the Zaporizhzhia region, toward the town of Huliaipole.

Active offensive actions began in September–October, with November seeing the highest number of assaults.

Russia expands the front

For Russia, opening a new section of the front is an attempt to deprive Ukraine of reserves, a large share of which had been redeployed to the Pokrovsk direction, the area around Kupiansk, and to Kostiantynivka. Moscow’s strategy is to stretch the active front line as much as possible; it is employing this approach in the Sumy, Kharkiv, and, more recently, Zaporizhzhia region.

The new direction of attack is Huliaipole, the administrative center of the local community. Before the war, it was home to nearly 20,000 people. The town has convenient transport junctions and logistical connections with other cities in the Zaporizhzhia region. Today, however, it is virtually deserted.

Ukraine halts Russian advance

After Russian forces advanced several kilometers, Ukrainian troops managed to stabilize the situation. 

“The Russians advanced 5–10 kilometers in different areas over two months; this can hardly be called a breakthrough,” a representative of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said on condition of anonymity. According to him, as of early December, Ukrainian forces had restored an organized defense in the sector and were holding back Russian troops with significantly smaller forces.

“Moscow wants active fighting to be underway along the entire front line,” the UNITED24 Media source explained. “In this way, it seeks to keep Ukraine’s defenses under pressure across the widest possible stretch of the front, which requires the use of reserves. The enemy’s advance is insignificant.” 

Over the past month, Russian forces have advanced less than three kilometers. The town of Huliaipole itself remains under Ukrainian control, with Russian troops still several kilometers away on its approaches.

Huliaipole’s historical legacy

Huliaipole is a city with a rich history and is part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage. During the Ukrainian War of Independence (1917–1921), Nestor Makhno, a military and political figure known for his anarchist views, established his base. He founded the so-called Makhnovshchyna—a self-governed territory controlled not by a single individual but by councils and communes, referred to as the Free Territory. 

Makhno was also known for his combat tactics: machine guns were mounted on horse-drawn carts, and when enemy cavalry or infantry launched rapid attacks, the guns quickly did their work. Makhno was born in what was then the village of Huliaipole.

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