Russia is preparing for a "bold" offensive on the city of Zaporizhzhia, which is located 30 km from the front, Ukrainian intelligence representatives told The Economist. According to them, the exact timing of the operation is unknown, but it is expected that the Russian army will involve up to 130,000 soldiers.
Zaporizhzhia is one of the three remaining "heavy industry centers" crucial for Ukraine's survival as a functioning state, the publication writes. Moreover, in September 2022, Putin announced the annexation of the entire Zaporizhzhia region, although at that time the Russian army controlled only a third of the region, making it extremely important for the Kremlin to capture the entire region.
Before a possible offensive on Zaporizhzhia, Russia is heavily shelling the city. Over the past two months, Russian missiles and guided bombs have destroyed 1,500 homes in Zaporizhzhia.
At the same time, some military personnel believe that the Russian army is still not ready for an offensive in this direction. Colonel Alexei Khilchenko, commander of the rapid response brigade "Spartan," believes that Russia is currently "occupied elsewhere." He also claims that the Russians planned to send two divisions (20-30 thousand troops) for the initial assault, but half were redeployed to the Kursk region.
The commander of the 118th Brigade "Lemberg," occupying the southwestern defense lines of the Zaporizhzhia region, agrees that the occupiers are not yet ready for this step, but when the offensive does begin, "the first strike will be the strongest."
According to The Economist, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are building defensive lines around Zaporizhzhia. In addition to engineering barriers and structures made of concrete and iron, they include minefields.