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
Over the last three days, RF have made advances in Luhansk and Donetsk Oblasts proving they have not yet lost the initiative in the war.
Eastern Ukraine: (Russia’s Main Objective)
RF have been using thermobaric artillery along the Kupyansk-Svatove-Kreminna line which has given them the initiative again. They have pushed UAF back within the forest area south of Kreminna and have made some gains around Bilohorivka as well. It was also confirmed that RF had captured Lyman Pershyi (6 miles NE of Kupyansk) several days ago.
Donetsk Oblast: (Russia’s Second Objective)
Bakhmut
RF continue to make advances in Bakhmut from the west and south having taken 76.5% of the city. They have also made some gains northwest of Ozaryanivka (9.5 miles S).
Avdiivka/Marinka
Heavy fighting continues over Marinka, but no confirmed advances were made from either side over the last three days. RF did advance near Novobakhmutivka (6 miles N of Avdiivka) and crossed the N20 highway that connects occupied Donetsk city with Kramatorsk and Slovyansk.
Vuhledar (Western Donetsk)
There were no confirmed RF assaults in Western Donetsk Oblast.
Southern Ukraine (Eastern Kherson, Southern Zaporizhia, & Western Donetsk)
RF are building defenses and making defensive maneuvers establishing better positions to slow down the anticipated Ukrainian Spring Counteroffensive. RF continue their daily shelling in Kherson, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblasts. RF also struck Beryslav again with guided aerial bombs.
Russian Military Command, Mobilization, and Morale
The Russian government passed legislation to create a unified digital register of Russian citizens eligible for military service. The system gathers information from medical, educational, and residential history, as well as gleaning information from insurance and tax data. Those on the list will be prohibited from leaving Russia and if summoned, will have twenty days to appear at a recruitment center. Those who are late will be banned from driving vehicles, buying or selling real estate, and taking out loans.
The R-MoD changed tactics and acknowledged the achievements of the Wagner Group forces by name. Conventional RFs are covering the flanks and are counting on Wagner Group forces to capture all of Bakhmut.
Relatives of soldiers fighting in the 137th Guards Airborne Regiment posted a video on Monday speaking about their poor treatment, and lack of adequate training, weapons, ammunition, and provisions. The following day, the soldiers of the regiment posted their own video denying poor treatment and claiming they are well equipped.
A local court in Kaluga Oblast refused to hear the case against volunteer fighter Yuri Yevich who had offered some constructive criticism of Russian tactics in the war against Ukraine. He was arrested after giving a training lecture to Russian troops on what went wrong in past confrontations and what needed to change in the future. He was arrested under the new law that makes it a crime to say anything negative about Russian troops and tactics.
One hundred Russian men who were being forced to join the Wagner Group forces have disappeared after refusing to sign contracts. Video footage has surfaced of South Ossetia president Lieutenant General Anatoly Bibilov threatening the men and then locking them up in a repair plant before escorting them to an unknown location. They then disappeared and their whereabouts are unknown.
A 61-year-old woman was arrested for attempting an arson attack against a military recruitment center in the Komi Republic.
Activity in Russian Occupied Areas
The Ukrainian Resistance Center released a report detailing the illegal deportations of 100,000 Ukrainian children from occupied Ukraine to Russia under the guise of medical rehabilitation.
Video footage has been released of Wagner Group forces training Ukrainian children in the use of weapons.
Russian occupation authorities are restricting the movement of Ukrainian citizens within the occupied territories. They are also seizing phones. These measures are to prevent Ukrainian citizens form assisting UAF in the event of a Spring Counteroffensive.
Other News
Ukraine’s Spring Counteroffensive was leaked by the US Pentagon forcing a whole new plan to be developed now. A criminal investigation is being held by the US Department of Justice on who is responsible for the leak. Ukraine announced that the Spring Counteroffensive will now not occur until the Summer allowing Russia to build up their defenses even farther.
International Support
Denmark has pledged to send to Ukraine 100 Leopard 1 tanks before summer.
Major Source Materials
- Institute for the Study of War daily report on the Russian invasion
- Kyiv Post
- Militaryland milblogger site.