UAF – Ukrainian Forces
UAS – Ukrainian Sources
UGS – Ukrainian General Staff
RF – Russian Forces
RS – Russian Sources
R-MoD – Russian Ministry of Defense
Summary of the Events
RF conducted more assaults than normal all along the defense line, but UAF held their ground.
Eastern Ukraine: (Russia’s Main Objective)
RF conducted assaults all along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line but were repelled on all fronts except for marginal advances towards Spirne.
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Second Objective)
Bakhmut – RF conducted assaults on three sides in Bakhmut but were unable to gain any territory. RF conducted heavy assaults on Orikhove-Vasylivka. This town is seven miles northwest of Bakhmut, too far away for its capture to aid in the fight for Bakhmut, but RF maybe trying to take the city to prevent a UAF counterattack from that direction.
Avdiivka – RF were not able to gain any ground in this area.
Marinka – RF conducted over 20 assaults in the area to take Marinka, but all of them were repelled.
Vuhledar – RF conducted no confirmed attacks towards Vuhledar.
Southern Ukraine (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, & Western Donetsk)
Fighting is most intense over the Velyki Potemkin Island in Kherson city. No information has been verified with both sides making claims of progress.
Russian Mobilization and Morale
Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom has announced they are forming a volunteer formation offering 400,000 rubles ($5260) a month which is ten times the average salary in Russia. They are recruiting in the same area as the Wagner Group and offering twice the money suggesting the government is planning on shutting down the Wagner Group. The Russian government also passed a new law that only private armies approved by the R-MoD will receive veteran benefits, which rules out the fighters of the Wagner Group.
Activity in Russian Occupied Areas
Social benefits are being withheld in the occupied territories to Ukrainian citizens who refuse to obtain Russian passports.
Russian occupation officials had promised high salaries to Russian citizens who moved to the occupied territories to work. But they are not keeping their promises due to budgetary problems.
International Support
Germany announced that they will be sending 18 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine this month. With another ten promised by Poland already, that will bring the number delivered this month to 28. Four Polish Leopard 2 tanks were delivered in February.
Major Source Materials
- Institute for the Study of War daily report on the Russian invasion
- Kyiv Post
- Militaryland milblogger site.