Fall of Huliaipole: Command Failures and Exhausted Defenders

In late December 2025, Ukrainian defenders lost control of one of two key towns on the route to Zaporizhzhia Oblast. On December 26, Russian forces seized the command and observation post of a battalion of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade located in central Huliaipole. The unit later proved to be the 1st Battalion of the 106th Territorial Defense Brigade, which had been part of the 102nd Brigade before summer 2025 reforms. By December 31, 2025, Russian forces had been geolocated throughout the town, according to UAControlMap.

Months Without Rotations

A soldier from the 2nd Battalion of the 102nd Territorial Defense Brigade reported that since June, the battalion had been actively repelling Russian assault actions near Huliaipole while suffering constant losses in personnel and equipment. According to the soldier, the battalion received almost no replenishment, and servicemen remained in positions for months without rotation. Ground logistics on this front section are completely absent, with supplies delivered only by drone.

A former serviceman from the 102nd Brigade’s psychological support department said that after the unit was transferred to Operational Command South, the brigade commander and all deputies were replaced, leading to demoralization among soldiers.

“When I joined the brigade this year, there was a close-knit team. The command, combat units—everything worked,” he said. “In October 2025, the 102nd Brigade was reassigned from Operational Command East to Operational Command South. Regular inspections started coming to headquarters, imposing new tasks that interfered with combat operations.”

Ordered to Recapture Lost Positions

Yuriy Malzhensky, whose father-in-law serves in the 1st Battalion of the 106th Brigade, said soldiers were surrounded in the town for a month before breaking out of encirclement on December 20. Immediately afterward, the battalion was transferred to the 225th Assault Regiment and ordered to return to positions in Huliaipole. Families of the soldiers are now demanding an official review of the command’s actions, according to Malzhensky.

A military officer who spoke with Hromadske said Russian forces approached the 1st Battalion headquarters, forcing soldiers to retreat. “I completely believe they were 700 meters from the Russians and had no order to withdraw, because the command post is usually positioned further back—one, two, three kilometers. I’m 90% certain that’s what happened. They requested permission to withdraw, and command told them not to leave,” the officer said.

Confusion Between 102nd and 106th Brigades

The situation in Huliaipole illustrates the confusion created by higher command. Ongoing reforms connected to the transformation of the corps-brigade hierarchy and linearization of Territorial Defense Forces remain incomplete, leaving many units attached to different commands than their organizational structure suggests.

The 102nd Brigade had held Huliaipole since June 2025. During Territorial Defense reforms that summer, the 75th Battalion of the 102nd Brigade was transferred to the 106th Brigade and redesignated as the 2nd Battalion. However, this transfer existed only on paper. The battalion remained in place and was seconded to the 102nd Brigade. Furthermore, the 75th Battalion wasn’t fully transferred—part of the unit formed the basis of the 1st Battalion of the 102nd Brigade.

Investigation Underway

Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi criticized the battalion command’s actions. “The battalion was ordered to organize a perimeter defense and destroy confidential materials, but this was not done, although there was time,” Syrskyi said. He emphasized that an investigation has been ordered. The spokesman for the Southern Defense Forces confirmed that relevant authorities are conducting a detailed investigation into the capture of the headquarters.

Video published by Russian forces revealed that not only was the headquarters captured, but soldiers left behind unlocked smartphones, laptops, and paperwork.