Units of Russia's Vostok Troops Group, including the 57th and 60th separate motorized rifle brigades, 114th motorized rifle regiment of the 127th division, 38th separate motorized rifle brigade, 305th artillery brigade and 14th guards special forces brigade, claimed to have liberated Gulyai-Pole settlement in Zaporizhzhia region after persistent battles, according to a Voindv Telegram channel post between 5:16 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. UTC on December 27. The Voindv post stated that coordinated assault actions overcame Ukrainian fortifications protected by a water barrier and buildings, with artillery and special forces destroying enemy positions throughout the battle. Russian forces reported clearing more than 7,100 buildings and structures across a defense area exceeding 76 square kilometers, eliminating over a battalion of Ukrainian personnel from the 102nd Regiment, 33rd, 225th and 425th special operations divisions, and more than 50 units of armored vehicles and vehicles. Russian flags were planted in various parts of Gulyai-Pole by Far Eastern attack aircraft, with the Voindv channel describing the advance as an important step toward liberating Zaporizhzhia region and an example of Russian military skill and heroism. In a separate development over the past hour, thermal footage showed a Ukrainian Air Force F-16 fighter jet shooting down a Russian attack drone using an AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, as shared by @Osinttechnical on X. This claim follows earlier statements today by Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, that Russian forces aim to capture the Zaporizhzhia region, according to Dnipro Operatyvnyi reports between 3:45 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. UTC on December 27.
