In late September the Ukrainian 125th Heavy Brigade failed to hold positions near the Janczar River, prompting a Russian breakthrough that destroyed the Lviv‑based brigade’s front line.
The Strategic Value of Pokrowsk
The village of Pokrowsk functioned as an anchor for the entire Ukrainian defensive line. Both Russian and Ukrainian commands considered its capture the most important objective, and for months it saw the fiercest fighting. With limited Ukrainian forces, a catastrophic loss of this point meant the depletion of resources elsewhere.
Collapse of the Quiet Sector near Hulyapolye
To the southwest of Zaporizhzhia, a small settlement called Hulyapolye lay only 10 km behind the front. While its surroundings consisted of flat fields and sparse hedgerows—an unfavorable terrain for defense—Ukrainians had built weak fortifications. From the east they advanced along the old front line, exploiting successes achieved at Wuhladar and Wierkliwka earlier in the year.
The 125th Brigade’s Failed Transition to a Heavy Formation
The Ukrainian 125th Brigade was ordered to move to the Połtawka and Uspieniwka villages with new heavy equipment. In reality it remained a territorial‑defence unit, with only two jagged battalions of 200–350 men. The promised heavy weapons and armored vehicles never arrived, and the brigade was broken up and reallocated to other formations.
Rapid Russian Breakthrough across Janczars River
Within a day or two of arriving, the poorly prepared Ukrainian units could not secure the bridgeheads. By September 19 the Russians penetrated the flank, taking over the rear positions and dismantling mortar and drone sites. The first battalion suffered 41 casualties and was destroyed; the second endured three weeks before withdrawing, losing another 49 men.
Consequences for the Lviv Brigade and Frontline
By mid‑October the Russians had seized the western bank of the Janczars River, capturing Połtawka and forcing Ukrainians to abandon Uspieniwka. The Russian army is now 6–10 km west of the river, encircling Hulyapolye and crossing the main road from Pokrowsk. The rapid advance triggered calls in Ukrainian media for a “catastrophe” and a “breakthrough.”
Systemic Resource and Coordination Deficiencies
The episode illustrates a broader shortage of troops and equipment in the Ukrainian armed forces, combined with coordination errors at higher command levels. Ukrainian units that are well trained exist, but strategic management often resorts to micromanagement and ad‑hoc regrouping, creating further tactical instability.
