Intensified Fighting in Zaporizhzhia: The Battle for Verkhnia Tersa

As of early March 2026, intense fighting has erupted around Verkhnia Tersa, located approximately 10 kilometers northwest of Huliaipole in Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Ukrainian forces are engaged in a counteroffensive aimed at breaching the fortified settlement of Verkhnia Tersa, which is critical for advancing toward Zaporizhzhia city. The Russian 5th Combined Arms Army (CAA) is simultaneously conducting aggressive operations to secure this strategic area, with the goal of laying siege to Orikhiv, situated 25 kilometers west of Verkhnia.

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The ongoing conflict in this region is part of a broader military engagement that has persisted for nearly four years. The 5th CAA has intensified its focus on Verkhnia Tersa, despite facing challenges such as disrupted communications due to the loss of Starlink access, which has severely impacted Russian operational capabilities. The Kremlin's attempts to block access to non-government social media platforms have further complicated coordination among Russian troops.

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The Ukrainian counteroffensive involves elements from the 127th Motorized Rifle Division and the 60th Motorized Brigade, which are part of the Russian 5th CAA. Analysts, including Thorkill, highlight the significance of Verkhnia Tersa as a potential stronghold for Russian forces, while the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies expresses optimism about the settlement's defense.

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The Ukrainian military has reported significant territorial gains, liberating nine settlements in the Oleksandrivka direction within a week. They attribute this success to the disruption of Russian communications and the effective use of precision strikes by Ukrainian paratroopers. The Air Assault Forces Command emphasized their ongoing operations to destroy Russian military assets and cut logistical lines.

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While the Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies remains hopeful about holding Verkhnia Tersa, Thorkill cautions that the battle is far from over and may extend throughout March. This reflects a broader uncertainty regarding the outcome of the conflict, as both sides continue to reinforce their positions.

Euromaiden Press

Reports indicate that the Russian 5th CAA has conducted over 40 attacks in a single day near Huliaipole, suggesting a high level of operational activity. However, the effectiveness of these assaults is contested, with Ukrainian forces claiming to have regained control over significant territory, including more than 300 square kilometers in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

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“Russian assault groups spent the following weeks of February trying to clear the eastern approaches to the settlement of Ukrainian subunits.” — Thorkill, Analyst

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“The adversary will be unable to continue advancing along a broad front without redeploying forces to the Huliaipole direction, but even this will not allow it to achieve a significant operational result,” — Ukrainian Center for Defense Strategies

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“The operation was conducted according to a defined plan, and within a week, due to technical measures, Russian access to the Starlink network was restricted,” — Air Assault Forces Command

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As the situation evolves, the battle for Verkhnia Tersa is expected to remain a focal point of conflict in the coming weeks, with both Ukrainian and Russian forces preparing for continued engagements in the region.

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