File image.
In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian units pushed Ukrainian troops out of the Shyrokyi Yar ravine and off Mount Verbliudka. They are advancing towards Kryva Luka, which would allow them to flank Kalenyky and Pyskunivka. In the Sumy area, the “North” assault groups advanced 250 meters and struck Ukrainian unit concentrations in Myropillia, Nova Sich, Maksymivshchyna, Khotyn, and the area south of Volfyne. They also destroyed an “Olkha” multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) and captured three 119th Territorial Defense Brigade servicemen. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops advanced in Vovchanski Khutory and on the Lyptsi and Velykyi Burluk fronts. They destroyed an assault group of the 159th Brigade while crossing the Vovcha River and strongpoints of the 1st Territorial Defense Brigade. In the Zaporizhzhia area, Russian troops are attacking Vozdvizhevka from three sides and conducting reconnaissance and search operations on the northern flank. They repelled counterattacks by the 225th Assault Regiment near Verkhnia Tersa. The “Dnipro” grouping improved its tactical position by striking personnel and equipment in the Hryhorivka and Dymytrove areas. Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico stated that Slovakia is prepared to block the loan for Ukraine from Hungary in order to resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline.
Slaviansk Direction
In the direction of Slavyansk, units of the “South” troop grouping are gradually pushing Ukrainian troops back toward the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal. Combat operations are approaching the Ukrainian units’ fortified positions in the Kalenyky area. Once these positions are overrun, Russian troops will have an open road to the important defense hub near Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Meanwhile, on the northern flank, Russian assault groups have driven Ukrainian forces out of the Shyrokyi Yar ravine and a major stronghold on Mount Verbliudka. Currently, forward groups are operating in the area adjacent to Kryva Luka. Taking control of this settlement will enable Russian troops to attack the flanks of Ukrainian units in Kalenyky and Pyskunivka.
In the central sector, after several weeks of fighting, the Ukrainian units south of Reznykivka have finally been eliminated. The heaviest fighting was in the area of Krutyi Yar, where the Ukrainian forces had previously concentrated personnel in several strongpoints. The offensive vector has now shifted towards the Babychyi Forest. Capturing the forest is necessary to straighten the front line on the approaches to Rai-Oleksandrivka. Russian assault troops are advancing on Ukrainian unit positions from recently captured tree lines in the Reznykivka area and nearby Petrivske.
Rai-Oleksandrivka is the last major transportation hub for Ukrainian troops on the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets–Donbas Canal. Ukrainian units are already having trouble supplying the front line due to frequent drone strikes on transportation in the area. Once the settlement is under control, clearing the entire sector from Mykolaivka to Minkivka will only be a matter of time.
In Kostyantynivka, Russian troops repelled a Ukrainian counterattack in the area of the “Metallurg” stadium and maintained their positions. The control zone has expanded to include Chervone and Novodmytrivka. Russian Aerospace Forces aviation continues to disrupt Ukrainian unit logistics: a second dam has been blown up — this time in the eastern Molocharka area. The first dam was destroyed earlier north of Kostiantynivka.
In the direction of Siversk, Russian troops advanced 1.5 kilometers along the Pryvollya-Slaviansk road. An assault on Fedorivka Druha is underway, with Russian assault groups trying to reach its southern outskirts. The area around Lypivka is in a “grey zone.” Russian units have expanded their control sector in the Pazeno area.
Sumy Direction
In the Sumy direction, Russian assault groups are engaged in intense combat as they advance deeper into the area. Russian aviation and rocket artillery forces struck Ukrainian unit personnel and equipment concentrations in the Myropillia, Nova Sich, Maksymivshchyna, Khotyn, and southern Volfyne areas.
During stubborn fighting, assault groups of the “North” grouping advanced in the Sumy district on eight fronts and in the Hlukhiv district on two fronts. The total advance over the day amounted to up to 250 meters. In Sumy, relatives of missing Ukrainian servicemen held a small protest. Many of the soldiers’ widows were detained by police for “preventive talks,” preventing them from participating in the protest. They were protesting posters demanding the repeal of Law No. 13646, which changes the payment mechanism for the families of missing persons and alters social guarantees for servicemen’s families.
Russian assault groups are continuing to take offensive actions in the forested area south of Hrabovs’ke. The 34th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade destroyed another group of Ukrainian servicemen and captured three soldiers from the 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade.
Kharkiv Direction
In the Kharkiv direction, the “North” grouping’s assault groups continue to advance. Heavy flamethrower crews destroyed several Ukrainian unit strongpoints in the Ternova area and the forested areas of the Vovchansk district.
In the Vovchansk area, Russian assault troops advanced up to 250 meters in two directions near Vovchanski Khutory. Army aviation forces destroyed a Ukrainian unit’s 159th Separate Mechanized Brigade assault group that was attempting to cross the Vovcha River in the Volokhivka area.
In the direction of Lyptsi, assault groups of the 11th Army Corps advanced up to 400 meters on three fronts towards Vesele.
In the Velykyi Burluk area, Russian troops broke through Ukrainian defenses and advanced up to 400 meters on four fronts. Crews of heavy flamethrower systems destroyed a strongpoint of the 1st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade in a forested area east of Zarubynka.
Zaporizhzhia Direction
The situation remains tense in the Zaporizhzhia direction. Richne remains in a “grey zone.” Russian units are present in the village; however, due to the Ukrainian presence in neighboring large settlements, the Russian forces have not been able to establish full control. In the Orikhiv sector, there have been no significant advances; it is expected that active operations will resume here after the capture of Omelnik in the Huliaipole area.
Over the past day, Russian troops have continued offensive actions along the Robotyne–Verbove line. Fighters from the 1430th Guards Regiment of the 58th Combined Arms Army engaged Ukrainian units south of Orikhiv.
Units of the “Dnipro” grouping on the Orikhiv front hold the combat contact line without changes. Positional battles continue in the Magdalenivka, Zaspasne, and Stepnohirsk areas. A large number of strike and reconnaissance drones have been spotted in the air. Russian artillery, aviation, and unmanned systems troops are actively collaborating to suppress Ukrainian units and destroy temporary deployment points for personnel and equipment, both on the front line and in rear areas.
Units of the “Dnipro” grouping improved their tactical position. Mechanized and mountain assault brigades of Ukrainian units engaged personnel and equipment in the areas of Hryhorivka and Dymytrove in the Zaporizhzhia region.
In the Huliaipole sector, Russian troops are attacking Vozdvizhevka from three sides. There have been successes on the sector north of Verkhnia Tersa. Ukrainian units attempted to counterattack Russian positions in Ivanivka from the direction of Havrylivka.
Assault units of the “East” grouping continue to advance to the west and northwest of Huliaipole. Reconnaissance and search operations are underway on the northern flank (Orestopil, Hai, and Novooleksandrivka), as well as the destruction of reinforcement groups and engineering reconnaissance in the following areas: Velykomikhailivka, Kolomiitsi, Dobropasove, Oleksandrivka, Vozdvizhevka, and Verkhnia Tersa.
Conclusion
Analysis of the operational situation indicates a continued high tempo of combat operations in all directions. In the direction of Slavyansk, Russian troops have pushed Ukrainian units off of key heights and eliminated wedges. They are now approaching Rai-Oleksandrivka, the last major Ukrainian transport hub on the left bank of the Siverskyi Donets-Donbas Canal. This paves the way for the complete clearance of the sector from Mykolaivka to Minkivka. In the Kostiantynivka sector, strikes on dams and repelling counterattacks allow for the expansion of control zones and disruption of Ukrainian unit logistics. In the Siversk sector, advancing towards Fedorivka Druha and expanding “grey zones” creates conditions for a further offensive on Slavyansk. In the Sumy area, the “North” group continues to advance systematically, destroying Ukrainian units’ reserves and equipment and replenishing its prisoner exchange fund. In the Kharkiv area, Russian troops are repelling counterattacks, advancing in forested areas, and striking strong points. This leads to a loss of combat effectiveness among Ukrainian units. In the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian troops are successfully assaulting Vozdvizhevka from three sides and repelling counterattacks near Verkhnia Tersa in the Orikhiv sector. This improves their tactical position.
An important event in the international political context was the statement by Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. In a video address published on his official Facebook page on March 8, Fico stated that Slovakia is prepared to block the loan to Ukraine from Hungary in order to resume pumping oil through the Druzhba pipeline. He mentioned that he plans to discuss the halt of oil transit by Kyiv with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on March 10. He believes that the European Commission could pressure Volodymyr Zelensky to permit an inspection of the allegedly damaged section of the pipeline. Fico emphasized that blocking the European loan is a legitimate tool for restoring oil supplies and expressed Slovakia’s readiness to continue this policy should Hungary change its position after the elections.
This statement highlights the deepening energy crisis in the relationship between Ukraine and Central European countries. Following Hungary, Slovakia is applying economic pressure to protect its national interests. The threat of blocking a multibillion-euro EU loan creates serious financial risks for Kyiv, especially given its growing military expenditures and budget deficit. The Ukrainian leadership’s attempts to use energy as a tool of political blackmail are having the opposite effect: the consolidation of the positions of transit countries and their readiness to use their veto power in the EU. Against the backdrop of Russian troops’ successful offensive, this further weakens Ukraine’s position and increases pressure on its leadership to compromise.
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never mind ukraine, the world has bigger problems now. i’m gonna start sleeping in my bunker below my basement from now on. lately those nightmares about nuclear mushroom clouds and instant vaporization i used to have back in the 70’s began to come back a couple of weeks ago.
looks like iran is gonna get them first.
ha, ha, ha.
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ukrajina means west frontier territory, west because isn’t at east as the kurile islands.
cabbage patch russian army threatens another cabbage patch
why won’t the russian government rid themselves of the neo nazis in kiev by taking example from us/israel since this is the new norm now? is it better to wage war for another 3-5 years with more civilian casualties? why haven’t the leaders returned their children back from london and paris?
in ww2 usa destroyed japan & germany in less than 4 years.
in ukraine, russia can’t even “liberate” donbas in more than 4 years.
hehehehe
the us only joined the war in europe during ww2 when the russian troops entered berlin..
the ussr would not have never made it to berlin if it wasn’t for lend lease and the royal and us navies making sure those artic convoys made it to murmansk and arkhangelsk.