Closer-up view of the approximate situation in Orikhiv, where Ukrainian forces are coming close to re-establishing full control over the city:

In mid-August, following a series of DRG infiltrations, the Russian command initiated a series of assault operations on Orikhiv, infiltrating through Novodanylivka into the city. After weeks of fighting they managed to gain a foothold in the southeastern streets and begin infiltrating towards the city centre.

In response to the threat of losing this critical city - which is crucial to the overall defence of Zaporizhzhia Oblast and Zaporizhzhia City - the Ukrainian command deployed reinforcements to the city and the areas further northeast in early-September, in order to carry out a series of counterattacks. These counterattacks began with clearing operations of the infiltration zone in mid-September, and by the end of September, they had regained the initiative in most of the sector, working heavily to cut off Russian reinforcements leading to the front with drones, while using small assault groups to engage Russian infiltrators on the ground.

As for the current situation, after pushing the Russians away from city centre and shifting the fighting back to the southeastern part of the city, Ukrainian forces began a blocking maneuver from the flanks, which Russia had been unable to secure during the initial storming operations in August and September.

From the east, Ukrainian assault groups cleared the western part of Mala Tokmachka and the nearby railway. From the west, they cleared some positions south of Orikhiv and increased their presence in the outer streets of Novodanylivka. From there, they are attempting to link up and re-establish control over the forests at the cross-roads of Orikhiv, Mala Tokmachka, and Novodanylivka.

Essentially, anyone who controls these forests - which are important for accumulation of infantry - and are located directly between these three settlements, will have a significant advantage. Capturing these forests was one of the first tasks assigned to the Russian assault groups in August, and they were able to establish control over it for infantry accumulations for a period of time. However, it has since shifted back largely into the grey-zone after Ukrainian forces recaptured the areas to the east and west of them, with some positions even being re-established along its northern edge.

In response, Russia attempted to bring in at least 20 more soldiers into Novodanylivka with transport vehicles earlier this week. It's unclear how many survived and if they will be able to resume assaults on the Orikhiv area in the near future.

It's likely that within Orikhiv itself, there are no more than 20 Russian soldiers present at the time of writing. They still have the ability to withdraw through the grey-zone, using the cover of forests and built-up areas to escape. But, it now seems that any successful Russian storming operation on the city will not come before the end of 2026.

Percentage of each Ukrainian region controlled by Russia, as of October 24, 2026:

Luhansk Oblast: ~26,566 km² (+64 km² in favour of Ukraine since Jan 1) - 99.56%.

Donetsk Oblast: ~21,371 km² (+87 km² in favour of Ukraine since Jan 1) - 80.65%.

(Donbas total: 47,937 km² - 90.11%).

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Zaporizhzhia Oblast: ~20,717 km² (+193 km² in favour of Russia since Jan 1) - 76.21%.

Kherson Oblast: ~20,230 km² (no changes since Jan 1) - 71.08%.

(4 Oblasts total: ~88,884 km² - 81.67%).

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Kharkiv Oblast: ~1,908 km² (+221 km² in favour of Russia since Jan 1) - 6.10%.

Sumy Oblast: ~517 km² (+231 km² in favour of Russia since Jan 1) - 2.17%.

Mykolaiv Oblast: ~132 km² (no changes since Jan 1) - 0.54%.

Dnipropetrovsk Oblast: ~46 km² (+398 km² in favour of Ukraine since Jan 1) - 0.14%.

Crimea + Sevastopol: 100%.

In response to yesterday's Palestinian armed attack on an Israeli checkpoint near Hebron, the IDF has launched a large-scale counter-insurgency operation in Hebron.

The operation is targeting the Ain Deir Baha Neighbourhood, in the western part of the city - which is where both perpetrators had resided. Israeli forces are now carrying out forced evacuations of all residents from the red area shown on the map, organising their evacuation through four different corridors.

The IDF has established military positions in various houses, and are conducting widespread searches for militant infrastructure and weapons, while questioning and arresting suspects. Hebron and the nearby town of Halhul have been fully cordoned off, with roadblocks and checkpoints being established outside both cities. The operation is expected to continue for several days.

At least 10 Russian S8000 Banderol cruise missiles struck the Zmiivska Thermal Power Plant in Slobozhanske, Kharkiv Oblast, last night.

NASA FIRMS data indicates that a large fire is burning at the "Taman" 500 kV electrical substation near the town of Starotitarovskaya, Krasnodar Krai, as a result of Ukrainian mid-range drone strikes.

Coordinates: 45.18879, 37.20919

Ukrainian mid-range drone strikes on energy infrastructure across Crimea, Krasnodar Krai, and Russian-controlled Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts, resulted in widespread power outages across these regions.

Electricity has been partially restored in parts of Crimea, however the majority of the peninsula was completely without power earlier in the night.

Druzhkivka direction, Donetsk Oblast.

Russian DRGs were once again detected operating deep behind Ukrainian lines, at 5 different locations near the villages of Staroraiske, Serhiivka, Rohanske, Novoandriivka, and Andriivka.

These infiltration groups pose a real threat to Ukrainian drone operator positions and artillery crews, and are yet to be fully cleared by Ukrainian forces.

October has become the worst month on record for commercial ship attacks around the Strait of Hormuz, with 28 confirmed and reported incidents. More than 30 supertankers have been damaged since the Iran war began, including 11 this month, Reuters reports.

Druzhkivka direction, Donetsk Oblast.

Individual Russian small infiltration groups again entered the village of Kindradivka, just outside Druzhkivka, where they were operating in the eastern houses. Another infiltration group also entered the village of Klynove.

A Russian DRG group was detected operating in the fields northeast of Raiske, on the approaches to Druzhkivka.

Russian soldiers are using the extensive cover in the form of built-up areas and foliage, alongside poor weather conditions, to reduce their chances of being detected by Ukrainian drones.