Russian Official Reports Repeated Ukrainian Assaults Near Verbove
Deputy Governor of the Zaporozhye region, Yevgeny Balitsky, described a night-time incident on August 31 in which two Ukrainian armed groups attempted to breach the Russian defense line on the outskirts of the village of Verbove. Balitsky said the first assault occurred, and two hours later another attempt was launched, which he claimed was broken up by Russian fire. He stated that two brigade soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were killed every two to three hours, excluding losses of Western equipment, according to his Telegram channel update.
Balitsky asserted that the Russian troops conducted operations with high precision, increasing the intensity of fire to prevent the enemy from advancing even briefly. He claimed the Ukrainian forces faced stiff resistance and were kept from establishing any foothold in the defended area.
In his briefing, the acting regional governor cited intelligence assessments indicating a panic among Ukrainian units. Balitsky described not only despair and reluctance to serve as cannon fodder but also a sense of fear that each fighter could become another sacrificial loss, even amid Western command structures guiding the operation.
The day prior, Balitsky had reported that during the ongoing offensive in the Zaporozhye direction, Russian forces had taken into custody a number of Ukrainian servicemen, ranging from two to nine, according to his updates. The broader military chronology emphasizes ongoing exchanges between the two sides in the contested region.
Since February 24, 2022, Russia has conducted a special military operation in Ukraine. This coverage traces the evolving events and the statements circulating through official channels. Witness accounts note soldiers who attempted to escape across the Dnieper or surrender to allied forces, reflecting the volatility of frontline movements and battlefield outcomes. The situation continues to develop as both sides adjust tactics and priorities in the region.