Fog blinds Ukrainian drones. Russia resumes mechanized assaults in the south after months-long pause, military officials say

Ukrainian forces have thwarted Russia's resumption of mechanized attacks in southern Ukraine, according to military officials. Deputy spokesperson for the Southern Forces Grouping, Anastasiia Shevchenko, stated this on October 22. The Huliaipole axis, where the fiercest fighting has been occurring, has seen an average of 10 to 20 combat engagements per day. Russian forces have attempted to break through toward Zaporizhzhia, a key Ukrainian city, but their progress has been impeded by Ukrainian drones and ground units.

The Russian military's strategy has shifted from large-scale assaults to infiltrating Ukrainian positions in small groups, often using motorcycles and quad bikes for speed and maneuverability. However, Ukrainian forces have maintained control over Russian supply routes, detecting and striking Russian personnel and equipment as they advance. In the past week, since the weather worsened, Russia has resumed local assaults with infantry, motorcycles, and armored vehicles, all of which are more vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes.

Shevchenko noted that Russian forces should not expect to advance unimpeded, as Ukrainian units systematically target and destroy their logistics. This disruption has forced Russian forces to rely more on vulnerable vehicles, making them susceptible to Ukrainian drone strikes. Russian forces have also begun using fog and rain as cover for their assaults, as reported by the 5th Assault Brigade's deputy commander, Mykola Zinko.

Ukrainian intelligence has capitalized on the weather conditions, timing their Huliaipole operation to exploit fog and rain, effectively disrupting Russian supply lines. This tactic has proven effective in keeping Russian forces off balance, as Russia has been unable to advance unimpeded.