In the operational zone of the Ukrainian Operational-Strategic Group of Forces (OSG) "Khortytsia" on the Lyman direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5 Russian attacks in the areas of Bilohorivka and Terny, where the enemy tried to breach Ukrainian defenses. On the Bakhmut direction, they repelled 4 Russian attacks in the areas of Ivanivske and Andriivka.
In the "Tavriya" OSG operational zone on the Avdiivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 14 enemy attacks in the area of Berdychi, Semenivka and Nevelske, where the enemy with the air support tried to dislodge Ukrainian Defense Forces from their positions. On the Novopavlivka direction, the Ukrainian Defense Forces continued to hold back the enemy in the areas of Novomykhailivka, Heorhiivka, where the enemy, supported by aviation, attempted to breach Ukrainian troops' defenses 27 times. On the Orikhiv direction, the enemy with air support attacked the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces 4 times in the areas of Staromayorske and Robotyne.
In the operational zone of the "Odesa" OSG on the Kherson direction, the enemy remains determined to dislodge the units of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from the bridgeheads on the left bank of the Dnipro and made an unsuccessful assault on their positions.
General conclusion:
The enemy utilized new UMPB D-30SN bombs for the first time in aerial strikes on Kharkiv and Myrnohrad.
There is an active movement of Russian military equipment and personnel from rear areas in Luhansk Oblast along the T0504 highway through Kadiyivka, Pervomaisk, and Popasna, indicating a buildup of the enemy forces in the Bakhmut area.
Change in the line of contact (LoC):
There were 60 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Kupyansk direction, positional battles persisted in the vicinity of Synkivka, Lyman Lake and near Ivanivka.
On the Lyman direction, positional battles took place near Terny, Yampolivka, and Bilohorivka.
On the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces have advanced west of Bakhmut along the railway line and the section of highway O0506 Khromove-Chasiv Yar. Units of the enemy’s 98th Airborne Division are advancing near Ivanivske and have reached a line 500 meters from the outskirts of Chasiv Yar.
Positional battles have been ongoing near Vesele, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, near Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Shumy, and Pivdenne.
On the Avdiivka direction, Russian forces have advanced within Berdychi and Orlivka, 200 meters west of Orlivka, 200 meters on the western bank of the Durna River, 200 meters west of Tonenke, 200 meters towards Umanske, 300 meters south of Tonenke towards Pervomaiske, and 100 meters south of Nevelske. They have entered Semenivka and are attacking Ukrainian positions in the village; however, Ukrainian forces are actively counterattacking in this area.
Positional battles have been ongoing in the areas of Berdychi, Semenivka, Orlivka, Tonenke, Umanske, Vodyane, Nevelske, and Pervomaiske.
On the Novopavlivka direction, Russian forces have advanced within the central part of Novomykhailivka. Positional battles have been ongoing near Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, and Pobieda. The 5th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Army Corps of the 8th Army attacked in the area of Krasnohorivka.
Berdyansk direction: positional battles continued in the areas of Staromayorske and Urozhaine.
Orikhiv direction: positional battles have been ongoing near Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka, northeast of Novoprokopivka, and northwest of Verbove.
In the Black Sea-Azov naval operational area, the enemy naval group on combat duty consisted of:
Mediterranean Sea: 1 Cruise Missile Carrier. The total salvo is 8 “Kalibr” cruise missiles.
Changes in the enemy disposition: not detected
Escalation indicators:
Russian forces are actively transferring military equipment and personnel from rear areas in Luhansk Oblast along the T0504 highway in the direction of Bakhmut.
Possible operation situation developments:
The likely operational-strategic goals of the Russian troops grouping in the theater of operations involve capturing the Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts within their respective administrative borders.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces maintain control of the final agglomeration (Slovyansk-Kramatorsk) in Donetsk Oblast; the strategic importance of the "Zapad (West)" operational grouping in the adversary's offensive campaign in 2024 is notably heightened.
The Ukrainian Defense Forces will make efforts to stabilize the front line and ensure an operational pause for 3-4 months to rearm and replenish personnel to a minimum of 150-200 thousand servicemen.
The enemy command will endeavor to cut off the Nevske-Torske road along the left bank of the Chornyi Zherebets River from north to south in the area of Terny and will attempt to eliminate the southern part of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ foothold on the Chornyi Zherebets River.
The enemy command will commit the 348th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 90th Tank Division in the direction of Berdychi or Novobakhmutivka.
The command of the 58th Army is poised to deploy the 136th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade into the operation northwest of Robotyne, aiming to bypass this defensive node of the Ukrainian OSG "Tavria" from the north and cut off the Robotyne-Novodanylivka road.
Russian operational losses from 24.02.22 to 28.03.24
Personnel - almost 439,970 people (+780);
Tanks - 6,914 (+10);
Armored combat vehicles – 13,237 (+21);
Artillery systems – 10,963 (+32);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) - 1,021 (+2);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems - 729 (+1);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 14,595 (+56);
Aircraft - 347 (0);
Helicopters – 325 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 8,600 (+22);
Intercepted cruise missiles - 2,017 (+2);
Boats/ships – 27 (0).
Humanitarian+general:
According to information provided by the Situation Center of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Russian troops shelled 10 regions of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 119 towns and villages and 178 infrastructure objects were attacked with various types of weapons. The number of casualties is being updated/clarified.
According to juvenile prosecutors, as a result of Russia's full-scale armed aggression in Ukraine, 537 children have been killed, and the total number of affected children has exceeded 1,806.
On the morning of March 28, the enemy launched an airstrike on the residential area of Mykolaivka in Kramatorsk district, Donetsk Oblast, resulting in the death of a woman.
In Kherson, Russian forces shelled a taxi, resulting in the death of the driver and injuring two other people.
The Russian military attacked Monachynivka village in Kharkiv Oblast, resulting in the death of a 57-year-old woman and injuring her husband.
Currently, over 50,000 people are missing in Ukraine. Prior to Russia's full-scale invasion, this figure was four times lower, at around 12,000, according to Andriy Nebytov, Deputy Head of the National Police of Ukraine.
Due to the consequences of Russian attacks on the Ukrainian energy infrastructure, power outage schedules are being maintained in Kharkiv Oblast. Restrictions may also be applied in Odesa and Khmelnytskyi Oblasts in case of increased consumption.
A decree issued by the Russian proxy "DPR" mandates the conscription of men into military service. It is probable that the occupying forces will initiate mobilization in the occupied territories, including Mariupol.