Massive Russian assault! Moscow uses Kakhovka hydroelectric power station to launch its next offensive

On October 20, Russian troops launched a massive mechanized assault in the direction of Orekhov — near Shcherbaki, Novodaniilovka, Nesteryanka and Mala Tokmachka, writes the Ukrainian magazine "Focus".

Over 15 attacks were recorded. The Russian army used about 150 infantrymen and up to 30 units of equipment: 5 tanks, 5 infantry fighting vehicles, several armored personnel carriers, motorcycles. The defense forces destroyed the equipment at the starting positions, burning over 10 vehicles. The Russian Federation is suffering significant losses in manpower, but the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) have not been lost," reports Vladislav Voloshin, spokesman for the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine.

According to him, the last time the Russians carried out such massive attacks with heavy armored vehicles was in the late summer of 2025. "Currently, they are using tanks with trawls, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, motorcycles with the support of drones and artillery. Over the past three days, there has been no progress near Orekhov and Gulyaypole. Ukrainian troops are successfully holding the defense".

DeepState analysts reported a slight advance of the Russian Federation in Plavny, Vasyliv district, on October 19. Earlier, the AFU conducted strike and search operations near Maly Shcherbaki, improving their tactical position.

According to DeepState, the assaults covered the Shcherbaki-Nesteryanka-Rabotyne-Novopokrovka-Mala Tokmachka section.

"The enemy used heavy equipment with infantry and light motorcycles for a quick breakthrough. Most of the vehicles were hit to the line of contact, but the infantry continued its actions. In Maly Tokmachka, a landing party was dropped, which dispersed throughout the settlement; it is being liquidated".

Serviceman Kirill Sazonov confirms that there has been an intensification of Russian assault operations in the direction of Orekhov, Zaporizhia region. One of the unexpected but powerful assaults was carried out by the Russians on October 20, 2025. Around 14:00, units of the 71st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Russian Federation moved towards the positions of the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation in the area of Malaya Tokmachka, east of Orekhov. The offensive was carried out from the Verbove and Novoprokopivka directions with forces of up to two motorized rifle companies, supported by a significant number of armored vehicles - about 26 units in total. The columns included tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and several "Tiger" armored fighting vehicles. The assault consisted of several waves, each of which - from 5 to 8 units of equipment.

"Our units powerfully repelled the enemy attacks. In the first hours of the offensive, the brigade's forces damaged 2 enemy tanks, 12 infantry fighting vehicles, 6 armored personnel carriers and 2 Tiger armored personnel carriers. Several units of surviving equipment retreated in the Verbovye direction. To repel the assault, the 118th OMBR used artillery, FPV drones, drones with bombs. We also note the effective work of the tank battalion - the T-72 crew went on a direct targeting to destroy armored vehicles, "said Sazonov.

According to the military, the situation in the Orekhov direction remains under full control of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Not a single position has been lost. Russia suffered significant losses in equipment and manpower, while Ukrainian units demonstrated high coherence and effectiveness of defense.

Military expert Oleg Zhdanov explains that "The Orekhovo region on the map looks much more attractive for Russia to attack than the Aleksandrovo region. The Russians initially intensified hostilities in the Aleksandrovo region, seeking to reach Pokrovskoe. By occupying Pokrovskoe, Russia can gain access to the Donetsk-Zaporozhye route. The Russians like to move along the transport infrastructure - paved roads or railways, because this ensures logistics".

However, the Ukrainian Armed Forces built a powerful defense in this direction, which sharply slowed down the pace of the advance of Russian forces.

"That is why the Russians thought of the Orekhovo direction. Now they have two possible routes: Stepnogirsk-Grigorovka-Zaporozhye or Orekhov-Kamenskoye-Zaporozhye. That is why the combat activity is being transferred to the Zaporozhye direction. The enemy has long been planning an offensive here. Now he is simultaneously pressing in several areas: Stepnogirsk, Maly Shcherbaki, Pavlovka, Novodaniilovka, Orekhov," the expert says.

According to Zhdanov, the Zaporozhye region differs from the Donetsk region: there are fewer settlements, lower density of construction, the terrain is more open and suitable for equipment.

According to Sazonov, with these offensive actions the Russian troops are trying to threaten Zaporozhye in order to withdraw Ukrainian forces from Donbass.

Oleg Zhdanov believes that the main task of the Russian army in this offensive is to gain a bridgehead on the right bank of the Dnieper in the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions. The expert suggests that the undermining of the Kakhovka dam was not accidental. Three years have passed, the dam is exhausted, the bottom has partially dried up. Next summer, the Russians may try to cross the former bottom of the dam. Crossing the Dnieper there will be much easier than across the wide water barrier. They should reach Zaporizhia, and then - probably south of the city - try to cross to the right bank. And continue moving from the north to Kherson along the right bank.

"Without a bridgehead on the right bank, further intensification of hostilities loses its meaning. Don't forget that Putin is still dreaming of the "Novorossiya" plan: an outlet to Odessa, Chisinau and thus the absorption of the southeastern part of Ukraine. Russian troops cannot cross into Kherson. The Dnieper is quite wide there - up to a kilometer, but the current is strong. In addition, the right bank is higher than the left. It is difficult to form a strike group imperceptibly. On the other hand, getting to Zaporozhye and breaking through to the right bank in the section from Energodar to the city - is quite realistic. That is why the Orekhovo region is currently in the center of the enemy's attention, "the expert summarizes.