Russia doesn't fully control Huliaipole — Ukrainian Volunteer Army spokesman

Ukrainian Volunteer Army spokesman Serhii Bratchuk spoke about this on Espreso TV.

"Russian forces do not have full control over Huliaipole. Ukrainian assault units are operating, carrying out combat missions - attacking, counterattacking, clearing relevant territories. Of course, the Russians are hyping this topic, amplifying this section of the front informationally, releasing so-called Father Frosts with tricolor rags who are running around various locations. Considering how quickly they're moving around, we understand they're afraid because something will hit them. Fighting continues in Huliaipole itself," Serhii Bratchuk commented.

According to him, the military significance of Huliaipole is a matter of Ukrainian logistics; it's the Russian attempt to pressure the Donetsk region, the capture of which is a priority goal for the invading Russian forces. Obviously, this is an element of the Russian southern Donetsk offensive.

"At the moment, I don't see Russian forces having the resources for full-scale attempts to attack the Zaporizhzhia region. Although I'll remind you of another location on the Zaporizhzhia front - Stepnohirsk, whose capture the Russians have also already announced, but at the same time they refer to the fact that nearby in Prymorske many things aren't working out for them, they acknowledge this and say that very fierce fighting continues. Russian troops are suffering heavy losses. Of course, Ukrainian forces would like to be able to hold the defensive line at Huliaipole. Today we need to talk about how to reinforce this direction, and this is a question of Ukrainian resources - more reserves are needed," the spokesman noted.

• On December 28, the OSINT information project DeepState reported that the Russian army had advanced in Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region and in Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.