Russian forces captured Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast during intensified operations that concluded by mid-2026 and have since converted the town into a logistical hub for staging troops, equipment, and drone operations aimed at advancing toward Zaporizhzhia. Ukrainian units, particularly the 7th Air Assault Corps, have responded with sustained strikes on Russian supply routes near Marfopil and Polohy, destroying bridges, ammunition caches, and vehicles through FPV drones and artillery to disrupt enemy movements. Heavy fighting persists along the sector with Russian infantry assaults and infiltration attempts, yet no confirmed Ukrainian territorial gains into Huliaipole itself have occurred. These dynamics, combined with Russian numerical concentrations in the area, shape trader assessments of limited near-term prospects for Ukrainian re-entry.