Inside Ukraine’s fight against russia’s infiltration assaults in the south (video)

04/10/2026

Fighting in southern Ukraine remains intense as Russian forces continue attempts to advance in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, particularly around the town of Huliaipole. The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell and Nick Allard spent time with Ukraine’s 225th Separate Assault Regiment, one of the units tasked with stabilizing this critical section of the front. Ukrainian forces rely on drones, real-time surveillance, and coordinated strikes to detect and eliminate Russian infiltration groups before they can establish positions. From drone operators tracking targets in open fields to infantry facing chaotic close-range combat, this report shows how Ukraine is adapting to a battlefield where control is constantly contested.

00:00 Teaser
01:01 Support front-line journalism from Ukraine
01:29 Command post and no man’s land
04:48 Gray zone is extremely deadly
06:54 Russia’s infiltration tactics
08:16 Bradley unit’s role
12:38 Infantry in the gray zone
16:37 Close-range combat
18:47 Tracking Russian movements
19:32 What’s next in the war
21:57 Why the south of Ukraine matters