The Times: In This Village, Russians Live For About 12 Minutes

• 23.02.2026, 12:19

Stepnogorsk became one huge grave for the occupiers.

The Russian occupiers are trying to break through in the Zaporizhzhya direction to get closer to the city of Zaporizhzhya. The last major barrier in this way is the small village of Stepnogorsk, which is desperately defended by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to The Times, some 20,000 Russian troops have arrived in Stepnogorsk, intending to make their way north to Zaporizhzhya, 22 kilometers away. This village is the last Ukrainian stronghold before the Konskaya River. If the Russians manage to cross this barrier, they will be able to shell the city with artillery.

"The loss of Stepnogorsk will allow the enemy to overcome the natural barrier, advance artillery and drones and shell Zaporizhzhya around the clock. This will cause panic among the civilian population and a humanitarian crisis. This will create conditions for the occupation of Zaporizhzhya and the loss of the regional center," said Mongol, a senior officer commanding the FERRATA unit of Ukraine's GUR.

The battle near Stepnogorsk is being fought by elite units, a testament to its importance. The Russians have sent two airborne divisions, a motorized rifle division and a special forces brigade to the village. Standing in their way, at a ratio of about seven to one, are GUR special forces fighters, as well as a small number of infantry, drones and territorial defense units.

The FERRATA group is engaged in reconnaissance, counterattacks and raids on Russian positions, pushing them back whenever they try to take forward positions:

"I think the average life expectancy of one mobilized Russian here is about 12 minutes, no more," one FERRATA officer said. "And the cost of his life, if we talk about the shells and the means of destruction spent to kill him, is about 5,000 to 6,000 dollars."