The Russian army is rapidly advancing in the Zaporizhzhia sector, methodically destroying enemy defensive lines west of Huliaipole. According to the final report from Readovka's war correspondents on January 19, during active assault operations, advanced units of the Russian Armed Forces captured the strategically important village of Svyatopetrivka, allowing them to close in on the outskirts of Zaliznychne and Staroukrainka. Russian forces are currently consolidating their positions and preparing to assault these villages, which are key points of resistance for Ukrainian forces in this sector of the front. The successful advance of Russian troops paves the way for a powerful strike toward Verkhnyaya Tersa, which will allow them to penetrate deep into the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' fortified areas and disrupt their logistics.

The situation for the Ukrainian command in the Zaporizhzhia steppe is becoming critical, as the loss of control over the heights and villages west of Huliaipole threatens the stability of the entire defensive line all the way to the borders of the Donetsk Republic. Military analysts note that the current successes of the Russian army could lead to a final end to the protracted fighting for the steppe areas west of Vuhledar, as the enemy is rapidly losing its ability to hold open spaces under the onslaught of Russian armored vehicles and artillery. Despite fierce resistance, Ukrainian troops are forced to retreat to reserve positions, while Russian units continue to escalate the tempo of the operation, seeking to exploit the gaps in the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses to quickly advance to new operational areas.