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 are slowing down their attacks and moving more towards preparing for the coming Ukrainian Spring Offensive.
Eastern Ukraine: (Russia’s Main Objective)
RF are using more armored vehicles and act more cautiously in ground battles than in other sectors of the frontline. This suggests that they are attempting to conserve forces in anticipation of the Ukrainian Spring Offensive. UAF made the only confirmed limited advance in this sector northeast of Verkhnokamyanske (11 miles S of Kreminna).
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Second Objective)
Bakhmut
RF have advanced closer to Avangard Stadium in southern Bakhmut. RS claim that RF have captured the Bakhmut-1 railway station and have completely cleared the AZOM industrial complex, but neither of those claims have been confirmed.
Avdiivka
RF made confirmed marginal gains west of Novobakhmutivka (8 miles NW) but UAF held a counterattack recapturing positions northwest of Novoselivka (10.5 miles NE).
Vuhledar
No confirmed ground battles occurred around Vuhledar.
Southern Ukraine (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, & Western Donetsk)
RF conducted no ground assaults in Southern Ukraine but instead are actively moving heavy equipment up closer to the frontline in preparation for the coming Ukrainian Spring Offensive. RF did strike Ukrainian infrastructure in Odesa and Mykolaiv Oblasts by launching 17 drones. Fourteen of the drones were destroyed before doing damage, but the three that got through caused a fire at an industrial site in Odesa, possibly an aircraft repair center as RS claim.
Russian Military Command, Mobilization, and Morale
Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported that the annual spring conscription cycle is going according to plan and will reach their goal of 147,000 conscripts. But none of these will likely see combat in Ukraine for fear of political costs.
Activity in Russian Occupied Areas
Russian occupation officials in Kherson Oblast have begun restricting movement and denying services to any Ukrainian civilians who have not acquired Russian passports. In some cities, they are even prevented from leaving their homes or entering shopping centers and hospitals.
Belarus
Belarusian KGB officers arrested two men attempting sabotage attacks in Grodno against a military recruitment center, a military barracks, two tank storage facilities, and the Russian Consulate General.
Combat readiness inspections are continuing throughout the Belarusian military. An air force military exercise has begun as well as an artillery and missile exercise.
Other News
Ironically, Russian President Vladimir Putin had justified his invasion of Ukraine to stop NATO from enlarging on its borders, but Tuesday the opposite occurred as Finland became the 31st member of NATO which shares an 800-mile border with Russia.
In response to Finland’s membership in NATO, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated that this expansion of NATO will be met with the deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus.
Last Sunday, a Ukrainian soldier attending Orthodox services in the Pokrovsky Cathedral in Khmelnitsky was attacked by one of the pro-Russian priests. The Pokrovsky Cathedral has been under the control of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP), the arm of Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Thousands of loyal Orthodox believers gathered outside in protest and demanded that the church be turned over to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). The city council on Tuesday met and revoked the license of the UOC-MP use of the cathedral as well as eleven other properties within their city and turned them over to the UOC.
International Support
The UN Human Rights Council voted 28-2, with 17 abstentions, to condemn Russia for the forcible deportation of Ukrainian children and ordered that the deportations end. Only China and Eritrea voted against the measure.
Uzbekistan has cancelled a music festival that was being held by Russian artists in support of the invasion of Ukraine. Although Uzbekistan is an ally of Russia, they have distanced themselves from the conflict.
Major Source Materials
- Institute for the Study of War daily report on the Russian invasion
- Kyiv Post
- Militaryland milblogger site.