BBC paywalled. The Russian liquid natural gas (LNG) carrier Arctic Metagaz, carrying about 62,000 tonnes of LNG, was struck and sunk between Libya and Malta, about 130 nautical miles (240 km) north of the Libyan port of Sirte. The thirty Russians aboard were found safe in a lifeboat.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] 20.50 US leader Donald Trump said he was "disappointed" with the President of Ukraine.
"Zelenskyy should get down to business and make a deal," the US president said.
At the same time, Trump said he thought Russian leader Vladimir Putin was ready to negotiate an end to the war. "I think Putin is ready to make a deal," he said.
When the US leader was asked what Zelensky's obstacle to concluding a peace agreement was, Trump refused to elaborate, but noted that he was not showing sufficient willingness to negotiate:
"It's inconceivable that he's the one who's the obstacle. You have no trump cards. Now he has even fewer cards," the US president said.
20.47 Ukraine should be ready to resume the negotiation process at any time. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky during an evening video address.
"Of course, our priority is to do everything to end the war. We will continue the diplomatic process when the American partners are ready to work as we agreed: bilateral formats with them, trilateral formats with Russia, and also work with the Europeans," the head of state said.
The President noted that now almost all the world's attention is on the situation around Iran, and no matter how long the fighting there continues, we must be ready to resume diplomacy at any time.
20.18 The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution recognizing the direct consequences for nuclear safety and security caused by Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy sector. The US opposed the document.
"Strikes on electrical substations that provide power to nuclear facilities are not 'another attack.' This is a deliberate attempt to create conditions for a blackout and increase the risk of a nuclear incident... This is nuclear terrorism," said Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybigy.
Before the vote, the US stated that it supports the work of the IAEA, but does not support the consideration of "an unnecessary resolution that does not contribute to achieving peace between Ukraine and Russia."
In addition to the US, Russia, China and Niger voted against the resolution. In total, there were four votes against, 20 votes in favor, and 10 countries abstained.
19.23 On the night of March 5, the Naval Forces, together with units of the Special Operations Forces, struck Russian units located on the Sivash drilling rig (Golitsyn gas field, Black Sea water area).
This platform was used by the Russian military as a point of observation, communication relay, placement of electronic warfare and short-range air defense means for the purpose of controlling strike UAVs, which were aimed at damaging the infrastructure of the Odessa and Mykolaiv regions and creating a threat to civilian shipping.
"As a result of the combat work of naval unmanned drones and aviation unmanned vehicles, enemy control and communication means were hit and significant losses in manpower were inflicted," the Navy noted.
The Navy's forces and means also destroyed a Ka-27 helicopter that was trying to land on the drilling rig site.
18.49 On Wednesday, electricity outage schedules will be in effect in some regions of Ukraine. This was reported by Ukrenergo. The reason for the restrictions is the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy system facilities.
18.22 In Russia, the share of citizens who support peace talks with Ukraine has increased to a maximum level. At the same time, the number of those who support the continuation of the war has decreased to the lowest level in the entire period of observations. This is evidenced by the results of a survey by the Levada Center.
Thus, 67% of respondents believe it is necessary to start peace negotiations with Ukraine. This figure has increased by 6 percentage points in a month and has become the highest in the entire time of conducting such surveys.
In contrast, the share of those who support the continuation of military action has dropped to 24%. This is the lowest level since the beginning of observations.
18.04 The Druzhba oil pipeline was seriously damaged by the Russians in late January and may be operational in a month and a half. President Volodymyr Zelensky said this at a briefing.
17.35 In just three days during the escalation of the conflict, Middle Eastern countries used more than 800 PAC-3 missiles for Patriot anti-aircraft systems. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky at a briefing. According to him, Ukraine has never had so many PAC-3 missiles to repel Russian strikes.
17.29 The largest number of Russian occupiers since the beginning of the war is currently held in Ukrainian captivity. This is reported by the "I Want to Live" project.
"The largest number of Russian prisoners of war ever is currently held in Ukrainian captivity - thousands of Russians have filled Ukrainian prisoner-of-war camps," the project said in a statement.
It is noted that the Russians are re-sending to the front those soldiers who were returned as a result of the exchange.
16.50 During the attack on the port of Novorossiysk on the night of March 2, the SBU, together with the Defense Forces, hit the frigate Admiral Essen - a carrier of eight Kalibr cruise missiles. The strike fell on the ship's middle superstructure. As a result: grenade launchers, heat traps and radio signal scatterers exploded. This was reported by Ukrinform with reference to a source in the SBU. It is noted that the TK-25 electronic warfare complex, which detects radar radiation and creates interference, was also damaged; the ZR-90 Oryok target illumination radars, which are part of the guidance system of the ship's anti-aircraft missile system, were hit; the main Fregat-M2M surveillance radar, which is responsible for long-range detection of air and surface targets, was probably damaged.
16.41 Since the beginning of the day, 56 battles between the Ukrainian army and the Russian occupiers have taken place on the front. There is currently a lull in five directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine informs in an operational summary.
16.30 An FSB agent, who was detained in the Khmelnytskyi region in December 2024, received 15 years in prison with confiscation of property. The SBU reported this on March 5. According to the investigation, the attacker was preparing coordinates for a series of rocket and drone attacks by racists in the western region of Ukraine. His main targets were radar stations and anti-aircraft missile systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which defend the Ukrainian sky.
16.25 President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope for the cessation of the blocking of the EU loan of 90 billion euros "by one person", hinting at Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He said this at a briefing. The head of state hinted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could deal with Orban.
16.03 This year, 52 billion hryvnias are needed to repair roads in Ukraine. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky at a briefing. Currently, a list of priority roads is being approved together with the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff, and the Ministry of Health.
15.23 The Ukrainian-made Ptashka attack quadcopter has been approved for operation in the Defense Forces and is already actively used by the defenders. The Ministry of Defense reported this. Ptashka has a fiber-optic control channel and can perform combat missions at a depth of almost 50 km.
Currently, this is a record indicator of the depth of damage among all codified samples of drones of this type. The new-generation Ptashka attack unmanned complex is designed to operate in conditions of intensive combat operations. It has a reinforced composite frame, high-performance electric motors, traction propellers and a separate battery pack for stable operation.
On January 15, Ukraine returned 200 servicemen from Russian captivity during the 72nd exchange with the Russian Federation in accordance with the trilateral negotiations in Geneva. This was reported by the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (KSHPPV).
14.58 The reform of the Territorial Defense Brigade forces involves strengthening it with units with an unmanned component, ground-based robotic complexes, anti-aircraft missile units, as well as large-caliber artillery. This was announced by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrsky, on his Facebook page.
14.45 Ukrainian F-16s have not had enough American missiles to destroy Russian drones and missiles for more than three weeks, Reuters news agency reports, citing its sources.
14.35 Ukrainian military destroyed a Russian Ka-27 anti-submarine helicopter in the sky over the Black Sea. The Ukrainian Navy reported this.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion and as of Thursday morning, the Russian occupiers have lost 435 aircraft and 348 helicopters.
13.59 The Ukrainian Defense Forces have eliminated almost 92.5 thousand Russian invaders in the three months of winter. Most of them - with the help of drones. This was reported by Defense Minister Mikhail Fedorov on his Facebook page.
13.51 Russia continues to consider the agreements with the US at the summit in Anchorage, Alaska, as a starting point in negotiations on a peaceful settlement of the war with Ukraine - but "the spirit of Anchorage is evaporating", Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
13.37 The Security Service and the National Police have blocked ten new mobilization evasion schemes and detained the organizers of the deals. For amounts ranging from $3,000 to $24,000, the dealers offered conscripts to avoid conscription through forged documents or helped them escape abroad outside checkpoints.
13.42 Some of the Russian Navy ships that the Defense Forces recently hit in the port of Novorossiysk had previously been damaged by strikes by the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The process of verifying the data is now underway. This was reported by the spokesman for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Captain 3rd Rank Dmitry Pletenchuk, on the air of the United News.
13.09 In Kyiv, law enforcement officers identified a man who danced at the memorial to the fallen defenders on Independence Square. He turned out to be a 40-year-old foreigner who has been living in Ukraine for several years. An administrative report was drawn up against the man under the article - petty hooliganism.
In addition, the police initiated an issue with the State Migration Service of Ukraine to ban the foreigner from entering the country.
13.04 Counterintelligence (security) measures will be carried out in Lviv from March 5 to 9. This was reported by the regional department of the SBU. The purpose of the measures is to prevent and neutralize threats of intelligence and subversive activities against Ukraine, the special service noted.
12.45 If Ukraine voluntarily withdraws from the Donbass territory under its control, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin will be able to save the lives of up to 1 million of his soldiers. He will not receive such gifts, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an interview with Rai Italia.
12.12 As a result of the next shelling by Russian invaders in the Kharkiv region, two women were killed and 12 more civilians were injured. This was reported by the regional prosecutor's office.
11.36 On Thursday morning, new power outages were recorded in three regions of Ukraine due to attacks by Russian aggressors. This was reported by Ukrenergo. Where security conditions allow, emergency restoration work has already begun, the company assured.
10.55 In Donetsk region, a bomb attack on a front-line building of the Trade Center was prevented. A Russian agent was detained, the SBU reported. A homemade bomb – almost 2 kg in TNT equivalent – with metal elements to increase the radius of destruction was seized from the traitor.
10.29 The Ukrainian army struck a number of logistical facilities and enemy manpower concentrations in the temporarily occupied territory (TOT) on Thursday night. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this.
9.45 During March 4, 118 combat clashes with the enemy were recorded at the front. The largest number was in the Pokrovsky direction, where 22 attacks by the invaders took place. This is evidenced by the morning summary of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, published on Telegram.
9.30 Russian occupiers hit a civilian vessel under the Panamanian flag in the Black Sea, there are injuries among the crew. This was reported by the head of the Odessa region, Oleg Kiper, on Telegram.
8.52 The Russian army has attacked Ukraine with 155 strike drones since the evening of March 4. The defense forces have neutralized 136 of them, but there are also 18 drones hit in eight locations. This is reported by the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
8.29 The United States and at least one Gulf state are negotiating the purchase of Ukrainian interceptor drones to repel attacks by Iranian Shahed drones, the American publication Financial Times reports, citing a representative of the Ukrainian defense industry.
8.10 The Ukrainian Defense Forces neutralized 900 invaders over the past 24 hours. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported this on its Facebook page.
7.32 The US focus on the conflict with Iran could lead to a critical shortage of American PAC-3 Patriot interceptor missiles in Ukraine, Reuters reports, citing Ukrainian, European, and American sources.
05.01 Several Russian regions came under massive attacks by unknown drones on the night of Thursday, March 5. In this regard, ten airports, such as Vladikavkaz, Krasnodar, Grozny, Magas, Penza, Saratov, Volgograd, Sochi, Ulyanovsk and Samara, implemented the Kilim plan. According to media reports, the targets of the attack were strategic facilities, in particular the Saratov oil refinery, which belongs to the Rosneft company.
04.27 On the night of Thursday, March 5, Russian troops launched an attack on Kharkiv and nearby settlements with strike drones. In particular, the drones hit objects in Kharkiv itself and the village of Kamyana Yaruga. A hit was recorded on a private household building in Chuhuivshchyna, where a fire broke out, and in the Osnovyanskyi district of Kharkiv. Information about the consequences of the attack is being clarified. Preliminary, no casualties.
03.03 On the night of Thursday, March 5, Russia launched a massive attack on Kryvyi Rih using about three dozen drones that "encircled the city", surrounding it from all sides. Shevchenkivske and the northern districts of the city are under attack. According to local sources, the Russians are again targeting the energy sector and several other infrastructure facilities. Falling debris was recorded near civilian infrastructure, and the number of victims is being clarified. Power went out in some areas of the city, fires and destruction of infrastructure facilities are being recorded, social networks say.
01.29 On the night of Thursday, March 5, dozens of explosions were heard in the Russian cities of Saratov and Engels. According to local residents, the situation led to problems with power supply, as well as fires. The governor of the Saratov region, Roman Busargin, announced one of the most massive attacks on the region, which resulted in three people being injured. According to him, civilian objects were damaged. The Ukrainian Telegram channel Supernova+ reported an active attack on the Saratov refinery
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[Korrespondent] The most active fighting is currently taking place in the Hulyaipil direction, where the enemy is attacking in the areas of five settlements.
Since the beginning of the day, 56 battles between the Ukrainian army and the Russian occupiers have taken place on the front. There is currently a lull in five directions, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported in an operational update on Thursday, March 5.
Thus, in the Lyman direction, our soldiers repelled three attempts by the invaders to advance towards the settlements of Cherneschyna, Drobysheve, and Lyman.
In the Slavyansk direction, the enemy attacked twice in the area of Yampol and Platonovka.
In the Kostyantynivka direction, the invaders carried out 14 offensive actions in the areas of the settlements of Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillya, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka and towards Illinivka and Stepanivka.
In the Pokrovsky direction, the invaders stormed 14 times near the settlements of Rodynske, Kotlyne, Novomykolaivka and towards the settlements of Bilytske, Novooleksandrivka, Novopavlivka. Two attacks are ongoing.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked three times in the areas of Novohrygorivka and Krasnohirske.
In the Hulyaipil direction, there were 16 attacks in the areas of Hulyaipil, Zeleny and towards Zaliznychne, Varvarivka, and Staroukrainka. The defense forces have already repelled 14 attacks.
In the Orikhiv direction, one battle took place near Stepnohirsk.
In the Prydniprovske direction, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine repelled one attack towards the Antonivske Bridge.
At the same time, the enemy has not yet carried out offensive operations in the North-Slobozhansk, Kursk, South-Slobozhansk, Kupyansk and Kramatorsk directions.
Recall that in the 24 hours of March 2, Russia lost 900 soldiers killed and wounded. The total number of losses of the aggressor country will approach 1.3 million people.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[NewsFront] 21:36 On the Svatovo-Pervomaysk highway, a drone struck a civilian vehicle, killing a woman, the LPR government reported. 21:22 Throughout the liberated part of the Zaporizhzhia region announced a drone alert
Special attention for UAVs - Melitopol, Berdyansk and suburbs + northern Azov region.
Enemy drones have been detected in the direction of Melitopol and Berdyansk, as well as along the coast of the Russian (Azov) Sea.
20:42 Six municipalities are under attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces, wounding a peaceful resident.
A 17-year-old girl was injured in a drone explosion in the city of Shebekino. An ambulance took her to the Regional Children's Clinical Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a mine blast and a closed head injury. All necessary medical care is being provided.
19:57 From reports of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation dated March 5, 2026
The enemy's losses for the day were:
1,215 military personnel
22 armored vehicles, including two M113 armored personnel carriers and a Stryker armored personnel carrier
11 artillery systems
Vampire multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle
85 units of special vehicles
410 aircraft-type UAVs
Sevene electronic warfare stations (unspecified)
19:23 Artillerymen of the 70th Motorized Rifle Division of the Southern Group destroyed UAV control point together with enemy manpower in the Konstantinovsky direction.
Crews of 152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S self-propelled guns from the Vostok group destroyed fortified positions, shelters, and elements of engineering equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and also disrupted their fire system in the Zaporizhzhia region.
16:39 Onframeswork with FAB-500 on a road bridge near the settlement of Pisantsy in Dnipropetrovsk region and a Ukrainian Armed Forces patrol vehicle near the settlement of Kolodezne in Khar'kov region.
16:32 In the period from 8:00 to 15:00 Moscow time, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed seven Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles of the aircraft type:
Five over the territory of the Belgorod region,
One over the territory of the Kursk region,
One over the territory of the Republic of Crimea.
16:05 Posted footage of FAB-500 missiles working on a road bridge near the village of Pisantsy in the Dnipropetrovsk region and a Ukrainian Armed Forces patrol vehicle near the village of Kolodezne in the Khar'kov region.
15:23 In the Khar'kov region, south of the village of Volohovka in the Vovchansky district, another control point for the Ukrainian Armed Forces' UAVs was destroyed by our drone operators, -video.
15:07 In the Slavyansk direction, the advance of the Russian Armed Forces was recorded north of Reznikovka, MAP.
14:16 Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov congratulated servicemen of the 1st Motorized Rifle Regiment on the liberation of the village of Yarovaya in the Donetsk People's Republic.
14:13 The Russian National Guard is destroying enemy artillery far from the front line, video.
14:00 In the Sumy direction, in the area of the settlement of Rechki, reconnaissance groups of the Rubicon Center revealed the Ukrainian Armed Forces' 2S22 "Bogdana" self-propelled artillery gun. After the coordinates were transmitted, the target was quickly destroyed.
13:17 Published footage of the destruction of the 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces by the combat groups of the Rubicon Center near the village of Gurinovka.
13:05 Summary of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on the progress of the special military operation as of March 5, 2026
Units of the "North" force grouping improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of the mechanized and airmobile brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the territorial defense brigade, and the border detachment of the Ukrainian Border Service near the settlements of Grabovskoe, Khotyn, Novaya Sich, Katerynivka, and Myropillya in Sumy Oblast.
In the Khar'kov region, units of the mechanized and motorized infantry brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the territorial defense brigade were defeated in the areas of the settlements of Staritsa, Vovchanskie Khutora and Grafskoye in the Khar'kov region.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost up to 225 service members, three armored combat vehicles, 20 vehicles, and two artillery pieces. An electronic warfare station, an ammunition depot, and eight supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the "West" military group, as a result of decisive actions, liberated the village of Yarovaya in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The manpower and equipment of three mechanized brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a National Guard brigade, and a border detachment of the Ukrainian Border Service were damaged in the areas of the settlements of Lozove, Yatskivka, Rubtsy, Sosnovoe, Svyatogorsk, Krasny Liman of the Donetsk People's Republic, Novoegorovka of the Luhansk People's Republic, and Druzhelyubovka of the Khar'kov region.
The enemy lost over 180 troops, three armored combat vehicles, 17 vehicles, and two artillery pieces, including a US-made 155mm M-777 howitzer. Three ammunition depots were destroyed.
Units of the Southern Group of Forces improved their position along the forward edge. They defeated formations of two mechanized brigades and a mountain assault brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the settlements of Lipovka, Kaleniki, Slavyansk, Konstantinovka, Kramatorsk, Nikiforovka, Krivaya Luka, Rai-Aleksandrovka, and Golubovka in the Donetsk People's Republic.
The enemy lost up to 135 troops, five armored combat vehicles, including two M113 armored personnel carriers and a US-made Stryker armored personnel carrier, 13 vehicles, and four field artillery pieces. Two electronic warfare stations and four supply depots were destroyed.
Units of the Center Group of Forces occupied more advantageous positions and lines. They defeated the personnel and equipment of three mechanized brigades, an airmobile brigade, a Jaeger brigade, two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, a naval infantry brigade, and two National Guard brigades near the settlements of Priyut, Grishino, Zolotoy Kolodez, Volne, and Belitskoye in the Donetsk People's Republic, and Novopavlivka, Ivanovka, and Novopidgorodnoye in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 345 servicemen, seven armored combat vehicles, 12 cars, a Czech-made Vampire multiple launch rocket system, and two field artillery pieces.
Units of the "East" force group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. They defeated formations of a mechanized, airborne assault, and assault brigades, as well as two assault regiments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, near the settlements of Velykomykhailivka, Kolomiytsi, Novoskelevatoe, and Pisantsy in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, and Vozdvizhevka and Boykove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces lost over 280 servicemen, four armored combat vehicles, seven cars, and an electronic warfare station.
Units of the Dnipro Forces Group improved their tactical position. They defeated the personnel and equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' mechanized and mountain assault brigades near the villages of Novoyakovlevka and Zaporozhets in the Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
More than 50 Ukrainian servicemen, 16 vehicles, an artillery piece, three electronic warfare stations and two supply depots were destroyed.
Operational-tactical aviation, strike unmanned aerial vehicles, missile forces and artillery of the Russian Armed Forces groupings damaged energy and transport facilities used in the interests of the Ukrainian military-industrial complex, sites for the preparation and launch of long-range strike unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as temporary deployment points of Ukrainian armed forces and foreign mercenaries in 152 districts.
Air defense systems shot down eight guided aerial bombs, three US-made HIMARS multiple launch rockets, and 410 aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Black Sea Fleet destroyed four unmanned boats of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
12:41 Russian Army took under the control of the settlement of Yarovaya in the DPR.
12:04 Specialists from the Antagonist group destroyed a British AS-90 self-propelled gun in the Kupyansk direction, video.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces' fire brigade attempted to extinguish the AS-90, but the damage was critical: a fire broke out in the fighting compartment of the self-propelled gun.
11:41 Stavropol paratroopers showed how they liberated the village of Veselyanka in the Zaporizhzhia region, video.
11:21 On the footage of objective control of hits with Geranium missiles on targets in the Khar'kov region.
11:01 In the Khar'kov region, in the Kupyansk direction, our soldiers ousted the Ukrainian Armed Forces are leaving Kucherovka and are gradually consolidating their positions in this area. Fighting also continues in Podoli and north of Kupyansk-Uzlovaya.
10:53 Rubicon destroys an artillery piece of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Sumy region, video.
10:06 Tonight "Geraniums"worked out» at targets in Krivoy Rog and Odessa region.
08:35 Posted operational information on the situation at the front over the past 24 hours.
08:15 During the past night, from 23:00 Moscow time on March 4 to 7:00 Moscow time on March 5, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 76 Ukrainian aircraft-type unmanned aerial vehicles:
33 – over the territory of the Saratov region,
17 – over the Black Sea,
10 – over the territory of the Republic of Crimea,
Nine – over the territory of the Rostov region,
Four – over the territory of the Krasnodar region,
Two – over the territory of the Volgograd region,
One – over the territory of the Astrakhan region.
07:33 Published map changes over the past 24 hours:
Advance in the Novomarkovo area;
Enemy counterattack in Verolyubovka.
06:22 March 4, the North group of forces continues to create a security zone in the Khar'kov and Sumy regions, MAP.
06:02 A 122mm BM-21 Grad MLRS crew from the 74th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Center group of forces destroyed Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in a forest belt in the Krasnoarmeysky direction.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited by Sergey Adamov
[REGNUM] This week, the Russian "Vostok" group is making a successful advance in the Zaporizhzhia region. Previously, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repeatedly attempted to counterattack, but after wearing down the enemy in defensive battles, the "Vostok" units regrouped and launched their own offensive. The front is actively advancing in two sectors.
The first is north of Hulyaipole, all the way to the border with the Dnipropetrovsk region. From here, Russian forces are advancing on the city of Orekhov.
In recent days, the villages of Rozhdestvenskoye and Gorkoye have come under our control in the Orekhovo direction. The front line has shifted toward one of the enemy's key defensive nodes—the village of Verkhnyaya Tersa. Advance units are already breaking through to the south.
If the Ukrainian Armed Forces are driven out of this "populated area," an offensive toward the Novomykhailivka-Orekhov highway will be possible. If successful, the Ukrainian group in Orekhov will be deprived of some of its supplies.
Overall, the Vostok's objective remains the capture of the heights along the Gorky-Verkhnyaya Tersa-Vozdvizhenka-Rozhdestvenskoye line. Beyond this line, operational space opens up for a breakthrough to Orekhovo from the north.
The capture of Orekhov, in turn, opens the possibility of an offensive on Zaporizhzhia from the east and southeast.
The second area where significant progress has been made in recent days is in the west of the Zaporizhzhia region.
Here, Vostok fighters are advancing along the shore of the former Kakhovka Reservoir, from south to north in the direction of Zaporizhzhia.
It has been reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been driven out of the village of Veselyanka. The frontline now extends 15 kilometers from the outskirts of the regional center. This expands the opportunities for drone operators and artillerymen operating along Zaporizhzhia's defense lines.
KONSTANTINOVKA: THE PINCERS ARE TIGHTENING
Another section of the front where Russian forces have been actively advancing in recent days is the Konstantinovka area in the DPR. The enemy is being pushed back both in the surrounding area and within the city limits.
Last week, a FAB-3000 bomb struck a dam on the Kazenny Torets River near the village of Osykovo, north of Konstantinovka. The resulting flooding caused a section of the N-20 highway (running north from the town of Druzhkovka) to flood.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces have lost the ability to move equipment here and are forced to seek alternative supply routes, including unpaved roads. When the weather warms up, this option will become untenable.
Assault units of the "South" group are trying to "cut off" the N-20 highway, completing the encirclement of Konstantinovka.
Northeast of the city, in the village of Verolyubovka, our troops are now fighting 5-7 kilometers from the N-20. Getting closer to this tactically important highway allows our artillery and drone operators to work more closely. At the same time, according to reports from the field, the enemy can still use this route to supply its garrison in Kostiantynivka—although this now occurs mostly at night.
West of Konstantinovka, Yug fighters took control of the reservoir on the Lozovaya River and began an offensive on the village of Stepanovka. The objective here is to break through to the same N-20 highway and link up with units advancing from the northeast.
Thus, the “pincers” around Konstantinovka continue to tighten with the prospect of turning into a “cauldron”.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are pressing towards the industrial zone.
In the city itself, the "South" assault forces are advancing simultaneously along both banks of the Krivoy Torets River. It divides the city roughly in half, into southwestern and northeastern halves. While the southwest is dominated by high-rise buildings, the northeast is dominated by private housing and low-rise housing.
In the city's geographic center—the coastal strip of Krivoy Torets and along the railway line (running parallel to the river)—is an industrial zone housing glass, chemical, and other factories. This is where the Ukrainian Armed Forces are retreating.
According to local reports, the "promka" (primarily its underground workshops) has been used in recent years as repair shops for equipment, including NATO equipment. The factories now serve as a fortified area.
Recognizing the looming threat, the Ukrainian General Staff is sending reinforcements to Konstantinovka, designed to, if not stop, then delay the advance of the Russian Armed Forces.
At the same time, sources on the other side note that Russian frontline aviation is actively striking the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in Slavyansk, Kramatorsk, and Druzhkovka, preventing the assembly of large forces for transfer to Konstantinovka.
THE BUFFER ZONE IS EXPANDING
In recent weeks, Russian troops have opened a new front, launching an offensive in the Sumy region along several sections of the border.
Last week, fighters from the "North" group of forces broke through Ukrainian Armed Forces defenses and captured the village of Bobylivka in the Glukhovsky district. The border villages of Komarovka and Kharkovka had also been captured earlier.
In the Krasnopolsky district of the Sumy region, the Sever motorized riflemen successively drove the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of the villages of Vysokoye, Grabovskoye, Popovka, and Pokrovka.
Further south, in the Kharkov region, assault aircraft of the 6th Guards Army occupied the village of Grafskoye southwest of Volchansk.
An offensive along the northern section of the border became possible after the Ukrainian Armed Forces command withdrew reserves from the Sumy and Kharkiv regions and transferred them to the Zaporizhzhia front.
The defense of the border area was entrusted to the “second echelon” formations, which suffered heavy losses during defensive battles.
According to information from the field, in the 158th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the 101st Territorial Defense Brigade in Sumy Oblast, soldiers remain in their positions for long periods without rotation, and desertion is common.
FPV DRONES HAVE REACHED KHARKIV.
Last week, Russian FPV drones controlled via fiber optic cable reached the outskirts of Kharkiv for the first time. This was acknowledged by an advisor to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense.
The first incident was recorded on the northern outskirts of the city. The distance from where the drone was detected to the front is approximately 23–25 kilometers.
Kyiv sources acknowledge that the acquisition of such drones by the Russian Armed Forces of Ukraine creates new technological threats. After all, fiber-optic FPV drones are virtually impossible to suppress with electronic warfare systems. Essentially, the Ukrainian military no longer has any safe havens in its rear areas.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also complained about the new tactics used to deploy Geraniums. Our kamikaze drones began operating at extremely low altitudes, remaining outside the range of air defense systems.
There are reports that Geraniums have begun to be used as carriers for FPV drones, delivering them behind enemy lines. This increases the effectiveness of strikes against Ukrainian Armed Forces communications and supply lines.
Direct Translation via Google Translate. Edited
[REGNUM] Around 80 unauthorized burial sites containing the bodies of approximately 100 civilians were discovered in Krasnoarmeysk and Dimitrov in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR). Citing data obtained from security agencies, RIA Novosti reported on March 5 that all the civilians were victims of aggression by the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), who were fired upon with artillery and automatic weapons. This news marked the 1,469th day of the special military operation (SMO) in Ukraine.
According to a RIA Novosti source, the killings of civilians by kamikaze drones, likely those attempting to flee cities during military operations, appear particularly cynical.
The Ministry of Defense showed the first footage from the liberated Krasnoarmeysk (Ukrainian name: Pokrovsk) in early December 2025.
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
