Russia Uses Drained Kakhovka Reservoir Bed as Cover for Infantry Infiltration Toward Zaporizhzhia

Analysis
Russian forces are unlikely to capture or establish confirmed control of all of Stepnohirsk by year-end. Infiltration through the drained reservoir bed will keep stressing defenders around Zaporizhzhia, but small groups reaching Malokaterynivka are not held ground. Russia holds only the 3rd microdistrict and southern Plavni, and clearing the rest would need a mechanized push that drone surveillance makes costly. Confidence is moderate: reporting agrees on the route but is thin on Russian force levels and on how many infiltrators have crossed. Sourcing is less independent than it looks, since Euromaidan Press and NV mostly relay Ukrainian military commentary and ISW is the only outside anchor. Filatov's warning may be aimed at winning reinforcements and air defense, with infiltration remaining a probing tactic. If it is, reserves and counter-infiltration assets should stay on air defense against the daily strikes rather than shift toward the city's approaches.