On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces fought for Potapivka, attempted to advance west of the village, attacked in the direction of Nova Sich and Mala Korchakovka, near Yunakivka.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Veterynarne, Zolochiv, Kozacha Lopan, Zelene, Slatyne, Prylipka, Lyman, Starytsya, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Tykhe, in the direction of Zybine, Bochkovе, Okhrymivka, Verkhnya Pysarivka, and Chuhunivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, enemy infiltration groups operate in Kivsharivka. The occupiers attacked near Kupyansk, Fyholivka, Krasne Pershe, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, and Kurylivka, in the direction of Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, Borivska Andriivka, Nadiia, Hrekivka, Novomykhailivka, Novovodyane, Novoserhiyivka, Novoyehorivka, Olkhivka, and Serednie, in the direction of Korovyi Yar and Oleksandrivka, and attempted to advance south of Korovyi Yar and east of Oleksandrivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a UAV launcher and the logistics depot of the 1843rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army near Holubivka and Radkivka, having identified the targets by their white winter camouflage.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces seized Fedorivka Druha, advanced south of Kalenyky, attacked near Lyman and Drobysheve, in the direction of Svyatohirsk, near Stavky, Dibrova, Yampil, and Platonivka, in the direction of Riznykivka and Kalenyky, near Lypivka and Nykyforivka, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Russian forces operate in the south of Kostyantynivka, attempted to seize Pavlivka, attacked near Kostyantynivka, Chasiv Yar, Holubivka, Minkivka, and Pryvillya, in the direction of Malynivka, near Kleban-Byk, Ivanopillya, Pleshchiivka, Berestok, Illinivka, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and Novopavlivka, in the direction of Pavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Kucheriv Yar and Vilne, near Novyi Donbas and Pokrovsk, in the direction of Novooleksandrivka and Shevchenkove, near Bilytske, Sukhetske, Rodynske, Zatyshok, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske, and Novopidhorodnie, and intensified assaults in Hryshyne. Enemy attacks on the Hryshyne–Rodynske and Bilytske lines are aimed at supporting a potential offensive on Dobropillya. Novooleksandrivka and the southern part of Vasylivka are a grey zone.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Novooleksandrivka and encircled an enemy group that includes mercenaries from Ethiopia and Morocco. Only a small enemy infantry group is present in Bilytske; the settlement is under Defense Forces control.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked near Novomykolayivka, Muravka, Filiya, Zelenyi Hai, Sichneve, Sosnivka, Stepove, Krasnohirske, Zlahoda, and Rybne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Dobropasove and struck enemy ammunition depots in Donetsk and Yalta, a logistics depot near Vesele, and a concentration area near Yalta.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the northwestern part of Huliaypole, counterattacked in Rizdvyanka, and are advancing toward Huliaypilske, Charivne, and Myrne.
Russian forces attacked near Huliaypole, Tsvytkove, Zelene, and Dobropillya, in the direction of Verkhnya Tersa and Vozdvyzhivka, near Zalizne, Staroukrainka, and Myrne, in the direction of Huliaypilske.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces attacked in the south of Richne and struck two fuel and ammunition depots, communications towers in Enerhodar, and energy infrastructure facilities in Tokmak.
Russian forces attacked near Stepove, Shcherbaky, Novodanylivka, Stepnohirsk, and Prymorske, in the direction of Magdalynivka.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck an enemy ammunition depot near Kalanchak and a fuel depot near Novotroitske.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the “Granit” Innovation Center of the Almaz-Antey defense corporation in Sevastopol and personnel concentration areas near Striletska Zatoka and Ovrazhok.
Overall assessment of changes in the operational situation:
In the north of Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces in the Lyptsi area are attempting to establish alternative data transmission channels following the loss of Starlink access, installing antennas closer to the border and increasing the use of Wi-Fi bridges. The enemy continues attempts to infiltrate behind Ukrainian Defense Forces positions, where it accumulates for further attacks, exploits poor weather conditions, is increasing FPV drone employment, and is targeting Ukrainian logistics.
Russian forces struck civilian ambulances near Oleksandrivka and Prosyanka, civilian vehicles near Novoosynove, Prosyanka, and Borivske, and critical infrastructure facilities in Hrushkivka.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, a shortage of heavy UAV bombers limits Russian forces’ ability to employ them widely at the front, primarily for logistics rather than strikes.
Russian forces have recently nearly tripled the number of attacks on the Oleksandrivka Direction; enemy personnel numbers have increased, the enemy is beginning to employ a limited number of heavy armored vehicles, and more “Molnia” UAVs are being used.
Ukrainian Defense Forces liberated 285 km² on the Oleksandrivka Direction in one month. The enemy periodically attempts to counterattack to slow Defense Forces advances and stabilize the situation but has been unable to seize the initiative.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 201 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk Directions, 2 combat engagements were recorded.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy made 19 attempts to breach defensive lines toward Prylipka, Lyman, Starytsya, Vovchansk, Tykhe, Bochkovе, Okhrymivka, Zybine, Chuhunivka, Fyholivka, and Krasne Pershe.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked 11 times toward Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, Borivska Andriivka, and Kupyansk.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 30 enemy attempts to penetrate Ukrainian defense toward Hrekivka, Nadiia, Novomykhailivka, Novoserhiyivka, Olhivka, Serednie, Drobysheve, Zarichne, Lyman, Dibrova, Tverdokhlibove, and Korovyi Yar, and to advance toward Dibrova, Zakitne, Riznykivka, Rai-Oleksandrivka, and Platonivka were stopped.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy carried out 27 attacks toward Kostyantynivka, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, and Stepanivka, and attempted to improve its position by assaulting in the Malynivka area and toward Kostyantynivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, 30 enemy assault actions were stopped toward Novyi Donbas, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Bilytske, Sukhetske, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novopidhorodnie, and Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, the enemy attacked 9 times toward Sichneve, Sosnivka, Krasnohirske, and Zlahoda.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 12 enemy attacks took place toward Zelene, Zaliznychne, Dobropillya, and Myrne, and in the areas of Solodke and Olenokostyantynivka.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy attempted to improve its position by attacking toward Stepove.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 15th Tank Regiment of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army strikes in Rybnytsya; the 2nd Battalion of the 119th Airborne Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division operates near Yunakivka.
The 352nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 11th Army Corps strikes in Pishchane.
The 83rd Self-Propelled Artillery Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army and the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army operate in the direction of Lyman.
The 27th Artillery Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps strikes in Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka; the 57th Separate SOF Company of the 8th Combined Arms Army and the 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the army strike near Rayske and Novopavlivka; the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division strikes near Druzhkivka.
The 80th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army strikes near Dobropillya, Novofedorivka, and Nadiia; units of the “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies strike in Vodyanske.
The 16th CBRN Brigade, the 1466th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division of the 5th Combined Arms Army, and the 20th BARS detachment strike in Huliaypole; the 218th Tank Regiment of the 127th Motorized Rifle Division strikes near Varvarivka; the 14th Separate SOF Brigade strikes near Rizdvyanka, Lyubytske, and Rivne; the 36th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army operates in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The 76th Air Assault Division operates near Mala Tokmachka; elements of the 19th Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms Army operate near Prymorske; the 108th Air Assault Regiment of the 7th Air Assault Division operates near Malokaterynivka; the 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the army strikes near Orikhiv.
Possible operation situation developments:
Two offensive operations should be expected starting from the end of April 2026 — the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk and the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia operations. The disruption of the enemy’s summer offensive will lead to a prolonged loss of offensive capabilities, depletion of resources, and will provide a real chance to end the war. The Lyman, Sloviansk, and Kostyantynivka Directions are acquiring strategic significance, as the enemy’s military-political leadership is urgently requiring several convincing operational victories that can be presented as victory in the entire war.
The enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will continue to operate simultaneously along the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, and the Velykyi Burluk Direction and will attempt to seize as large an area as possible in Sumy Oblast and Kharkiv Oblast with the aim of subsequent political bargaining for their exchange for territories in Donetsk Oblast that the enemy will be unable to seize.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, in the Vovchansk area, the enemy “Belgorod–Kharkov” Tactical Group will continue attempts to break through along the eastern bank of the Siverskyi Donets in the southern direction and advance as far as possible in the Vovchansk–Bilyi Kolodyaz direction. Attempting to advance in the general Vovchansk–Staryi Saltiv direction, the Tactical Group command will try to secure the right flank of its main forces, which will advance toward Bilyi Kolodyaz.
In the Kupyansk area, Russian forces will attack along the Pishchane–Kurylivka line and further toward Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi, as well as along the Kolisnykivka–Hlushkivka line and further toward Kivsharivka and Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. The 6th Combined Arms Army of the enemy “Sever (North)” Operational Grouping will advance simultaneously on three directions: toward Staryi Saltiv, Velykyi Burluk, and in the Kupyansk area. The army’s troops will advance in the Krasne Pershe–Novovasylivka and Dvorichna–Ridkodub directions, attack in the Milove–Ambarne direction with the aim of capturing the latter and will try to outflank from the north and south the defensive strongpoint of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kolodyazne area. The 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army will attempt to eliminate the bridgehead of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Oskil east of Kupyansk.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army will break through to the Mykolaivka–Nykanorivka line and, with part of its forces, to the Vasylivska Pustosh–Vasyutynske line, in order to reach the near approaches to Sloviansk and Kramatorsk respectively.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the enemy “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping will attempt to seize the Druzhkivka–Kostyantynivka agglomeration by enveloping the flanks of Kostyantynivka, while simultaneously breaking through to the near approaches to Druzhkivka, after which it will assault Kostyantynivka and push Ukrainian Defense Forces out of the Druzhkivka area under the threat of encirclement. Enemy forces will advance toward the Malotaranivka–Semenivka–Bilokuzmynivka–Komyshuvakha area north of Druzhkivka. Ukrainian Defense Forces will be forced to withdraw from the area between Kostyantynivka and the Kleban-Byk Reservoir under the threat of encirclement to the area north of road T0504, which will slow the assault actions of the enemy’s 3rd Army Corps in Kostyantynivka.
On the Dobropillya Direction, in the near term the enemy will attempt to break through to the northwest, striking with the adjacent flanks of the 2nd and 51st Combined Arms Armies and breaking through to the Novohryshyne–Dobropillya (village)–Chernihivka–Shevchenko area, i.e. reaching the near approaches to Dobropillya city from the south. In the operational zone of the “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping, Russian forces can no longer simultaneously break through to Dobropillya from the south, southeast, and east, meaning they are already forced to accomplish this task sequentially. It is likely that the 2nd Combined Arms Army will first break through from the direction of Pokrovsk to the near approaches to Dobropillya from the south, after which the main effort of the “”Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping command will shift to the 51st Combined Arms Army’s sector, which will break through to the city from the east and southeast, following which the assault on Dobropillya will begin.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, units of the 39th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 68th Army Corps, operating on the left flank of the 29th Combined Arms Army, will be forced to withdraw to the Voskresenka–Maliivka line and attempt to hold it; the forces of the 29th Combined Arms Army as a whole will be forced to withdraw from the Vovcha river on their left flank.
On the Huliaypole Direction, the 5th Combined Arms Army will in the near term attempt to break through to the Verkhnya Tersa–Huliaypilske line, with its forward units already pushing in the direction of Verkhnya Tersa from Zaliznychne and Zelene and attacking along the Huliaypole–Orikhiv road toward Huliaypilske from Zaliznychne and from Dorozhnyanka. In addition, the army will attempt to restore its positions along the Khaychur river.
On the Orikhiv Direction, after several failed attempts to bring Mala Tokmachka and the surrounding area under control from the west, the 76th Air Assault Division will shift its main effort axis to the northeast — along the Bilohirya–Luhivske line — in an attempt to support the advance on the adjacent flank of the 5th and 35th Combined Arms Armies, which are operating southwest of Huliaypole and have advanced in the area of Myrne and north of Zahirne.
On the Prydniprovske direction, the command of the enemy’s “Dnepr” Operational Grouping will continue trying to take control of most of the island zone in the Dnipro delta in the direction of Kherson, will try to create a tactical bridgehead on the right bank, and to eliminate the tactical bridgeheads of the 30th Marine Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces in the area of the automobile and railway bridges near Antonivka.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 20.03.26
Personnel - almost 1,285 700 (+1,610);
Tanks – 11,789 (+3);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,254 (+21);
Artillery systems – 38,569 (+31);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,691 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,333 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 84,374 (+245);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 349 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 187,204 (+1480);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,468 (0);
Boats/ships – 35 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, from the evening of 19 March Russian occupiers attacked Ukraine with 156 UAVs of various types, including around 90 Shahed strike drones as well as Gerbera, Italmas, and other drone types. By 08:00, air defense forces had shot down or suppressed 133 enemy drones. Hits from 19 strike UAVs were recorded at 13 locations, with debris from shot-down drones falling at 7 more. As of the morning of 20 March, the enemy attack was ongoing.
According to Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration head Ivan Fedorov, on the night of 20 March Russian forces struck civilian infrastructure in Zaporizhzhia district. Two hits destroyed private houses, killing a 30-year-old woman. A 48-year-old man and a 10-year-old child were also injured.
According to Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Oleksiy Kuleba, a UAV attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of 20 March damaged two civilian commercial vessels sailing under the flags of Palau and Barbados. The vessels were loaded with grain and moored at berths at the time of the strike; despite the damage, they remain afloat. Two people were injured in the attack, and damage to administrative buildings was recorded along with a fire that rescuers promptly contained.
According to “Proliska” humanitarian mission head Yevhen Kaplin, on the morning of 20 March a Russian UAV attacked an evacuation crew vehicle in the town of Oleksiyevo-Druzhkivka in Donetsk Oblast. A woman was killed in the strike and three more people were injured, two of whom are in serious and critical condition. The occupiers struck the vehicle directly on the humanitarian mission emblem while the crew was conducting evacuation operations in the settlement.
Donetsk Oblast Military Administration head Vadym Filashkin signed an order for the forced evacuation of children from certain parts of Sloviansk that are most vulnerable to enemy shelling.
According to Kherson Oblast Military Administration head Oleksandr Prokudin, three more children aged between 1 and 17 were returned to Ukrainian-controlled territory from the temporarily occupied part of the Oblast. The rescue took place under the Bring Kids Back UA initiative with the assistance of the Save Ukraine organization. The children are now safe. The Oblast head stressed that Russian occupiers are deliberately creating increasing dangers along return routes. The enemy is also intensifying pressure on the civilian population and introducing year-round conscription in the seized territories.
According to the Ministry of Energy and “Ukrenergo,” on 20 March some consumers in Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, Mykolaiv, and Kharkiv Oblasts are temporarily without electricity as a result of combat operations and strikes on energy infrastructure. At the same time, electricity consumption fell by 2.3% compared to the previous day thanks to clear weather, which is enabling effective operation of residential solar power plants and reducing the load on the general grid.
According to Naftogaz CEO Serhii Koretsky, on the night of 20 March Russian forces attacked Naftogaz Group oil and gas facilities in Poltava and Sumy Oblasts with UAVs. The strikes on several assets caused damage, and a fire broke out at one facility, which has since been extinguished. There were no personnel casualties as employees were in shelters during the attack. Koretsky noted that since the beginning of the year the enemy has deliberately targeted the group’s critical infrastructure more than 30 times.
According to National Union of Journalists head Serhiy Tomilenko, journalists in Ukraine are no longer recommended to mark themselves with “PRESS” insignia. The union head stressed that Russian occupiers deliberately target journalists with UAVs, making such markings no longer a guarantee of protection — and in fact increasing the risk of becoming a target. To enhance safety, the union provides frontline Journalist Solidarity Centers with drone detectors that allow journalists to spot threats in time and take cover. Verkhovna Rada Committee on Freedom of Speech head Yaroslav Yurchyshyn stressed that the practice whereby international institutions, including the UN, recommend journalists avoid any protective means such as detectors or electronic warfare equipment and rely exclusively on markings — large “PRESS” signs and bright vests — must change, and that this requires amendments to international humanitarian law.
According to a Kyiv International Institute of Sociology survey conducted on 1–8 March 2026:
Ukraine is seeing a decline in the share of citizens prepared to endure the war for as long as necessary. While this figure stood at 65% at the end of January, it fell to 52% in mid-February and has since stabilized at 54% as of early March. At the same time, 28% of respondents say they are only willing to endure hostilities for a short period — from a few months to half a year. KIIS added that the decline in willingness to endure the war was observed primarily among those who had been open to a difficult exchange of control over Donetsk Oblast in return for security guarantees.
71% of Ukrainians do not believe that the current negotiations can deliver a sustainable peace, while 25% of respondents express faith in such an outcome.
62% of those surveyed consider it categorically unacceptable to transfer control of the entire Donbas to Russia in exchange for security guarantees. The share willing to accept such a concession stands at 33%, though most of them acknowledge it would be a difficult decision. Compared to February, public sentiment has hardened: the share of those categorically opposed to such a territorial exchange rose from 57% to 62%, while the share in favor fell from 36% to 33%.
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