Russia’s war on Ukraine. 02.03.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Varachyne and Pokrovka. The command of the 44th Army Corps began transferring servicemen from the 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the corps to the 74th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the division at the end of January 2026, which restores combat capability after heavy losses and conducts combat coordination in Bilovodsk of Luhansk Oblast.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Vovchansk, Prylipka, Vovchanski Khutory, Zybine, in the direction of Vesele, near Chuhunivka, in the direction of Vykhuvatka, near Dvorichanske, in the direction of Kolodyazne.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near and inside Kupyansk, near Kindrashivka, Petropavlivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, Borivska Andriivka, Novoyehorivka, near Oleksandrivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Kupyansk and Oleksandrivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near Lyman, Yarova, Sosnove, Drobysheve, Stavky, Yampil, Dibrova, in the direction of Staryi Karavan, Brusivka, near Zakitne, Dronivka, Riznykivka, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka, near Fedorivka Druha.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Yarova and Sosnove.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Russian forces advanced east of Kostyantynivka, attacked near Pryvillya, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillya, Illinivka, Berestok, Stepanivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, Novopavlivka, Pavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the center of Novyi Donbas and counterattacked near Rodynske.
Russian forces fought for Hryshyne, attacked in the direction of Shakhove, near Toretske, Nove Shakhove, Pokrovsk, in the direction of Novooleksandrivka, near Rodynske, Bilytske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Udachne, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Novopidhorodnie.
In the direction Sofiivka – Novopavlivka, forward enemy units attempted to break through to Novopavlivka and Pavlivka, operating both along the road to Druzhkivka and northeast of Sofiivka, achieved small tactical advances of several hundred meters. In the direction Shakhove – Kucheriv Yar, several enemy assault groups established positions in the quarry area, some advanced between them to the north, reaching the southern outskirts of the village. Enemy assault units attempt to advance in the directions Nove Shakhove – Vilne and Dorizhne – Novyi Donbas. Attempts are mostly repelled by Ukrainian Defense Forces. In the Biletske area and west of Rodynske, encounter battles continue. The enemy simultaneously attacks Biletske from the south and east. The enemy secured positions on the southern outskirts of the village. West of Rodynske, enemy assault groups simultaneously attempt to break through both toward Hryshyne and along the adjacent ravine toward Shevchenkove. The command of the 51st Combined Arms Army concentrates its main efforts on the sector from Biletske to Myrnohrad, that is on the flank adjacent to the 2nd Combined Arms Army, where assault units of the 5th and 9th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades operate. The enemy accumulates assault infantry in the area of the Krasnolymanska mine, in the northern districts of Myrnohrad and in the Rodynske area. In addition to them, separate units of the 1st or 110th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade operate from the line Rivne – Svitle and in the direction Rodynske – Shevchenko. In the direction Pokrovsk – Hryshyne, the 27th Motorized Rifle Division of the 2nd Combined Arms Army, despite significant losses, attempts to seize Hryshyne and break through to Novooleksandrivka and Vasylivka, but was stopped on the southern outskirts of Hryshyne. By accumulating significant numbers of assault infantry on the northern outskirts of Pokrovsk, the command of the 2nd Combined Arms Army obtained the opportunity to organize attacks in the directions Pokrovsk – Shevchenko and Pokrovsk – Rodynske, which led to the end of the defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Myrnohrad. The enemy advanced from Pokrovsk east of Hryshyne in the direction of Shevchenkove by 3.8 km. On the line Molodetske – Kotlyne, assault units of the 2nd Combined Arms Army repeatedly attempted to advance in the direction Udachne – Serhiivka and from Kotlyne toward the E50 Pavlohrad – Pokrovsk road. The enemy has not yet broken through to Serhiivka and the road, but has already approached the former to a distance of 4 km.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance north of Muravka, attacked near Filiya, Ternove, Stepove, Sichneve, Kalynivske, Vorone.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces attacked near Huliaypole, Dobropillya, Zelenе, Svyatopetrivka, Rizdvyanka, Varvarivka, in the direction of Pryluky, Vozdvyzhivka, Verkhnya Tersa, near Staroukrainka, Zalizne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Rizdvyanka and Ternuvate.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces attacked near Myrne, Plavni, Stepnohirsk, Lukyanivske, Zapasne, Magdalynivka.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Sheskharis oil terminal in Novorossiysk, an ammunition depot in the Yalta area of Donetsk Oblast, a concentration of manpower in the area of Molodyi Shakhtar, fuel depots in the area of Pryshyb and in Makiivka, a repair unit in the area of Bahativka, concentrations of enemy manpower in the areas of Dunaivka, Poltavka, Stepnohirsk.
General conclusion:
The enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping continues the offensive on the Pokrovsk direction, delivering the main strike in the offensive zone of the 2nd Combined Arms Army in the general direction of Pokrovsk – Hryshyne – Novooleksandrivka. The grouping command creates conditions for the envelopment of the Dobropillya defense area of the Armed Forces of Ukraine similar to those it managed to create in the Kostyantynivka area (deep envelopment from at least three directions). The offensive is conducted by two Operational Tactical Groupings.
The 51st Combined Arms Army from its bridgehead on the Kazennyi Torets River attempts to break through from the east, southeast and south to the near approaches to Dobropillya, reach the line Stepy – Novyi Donbas and break through to the area Krasnopodillya – Chernihivka – Svitle – Vodyanske. Another task of the army is to cut the Dobropillya – Kramatorsk road northeast of Dobropillya.
The 2nd Combined Arms Army and part of the forces of the 41st Combined Arms Army advance from the south, attempting to break through to the Novohryshyne – Matyasheve line, while covering the western flank of the 51st Combined Arms Army, advancing along the road to Pavlohrad and the Hrishynka River to the northwest in the direction Hryshyne – Novooleksandrivka – Myrne. Another task is to reach the Serhiivka – Shylivka line.
In the Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad areas Russian forces increased the use of all-terrain vehicles. The enemy demonstrates a high level of activity toward Dobropillya.
The forces of the 51st Combined Arms Army attempt to advance simultaneously on a broad front, although its brigades have suffered significant losses in previous battles. Because of this, attempts of the 51st Combined Arms Army to advance north of Biletske, envelop Dobropillya from the east and simultaneously break through to the Dobropillya – Kramatorsk road increasingly conflict with each other. It is evident that its command is forced to shift the direction of its main strike south of Biletske. The longer the occupiers attack on this sector, the more the overall tempo of the offensive in other sectors of its bridgehead declines.
The command of the 2nd Combined Arms Army decided to break through from the south toward Dobropillya at any cost.
The command of the enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping on the Dobropillya direction is in a great hurry. Before the start of the summer offensive, it must seize Dobropillya and cut the Dobropillya – Kramatorsk road, but at present the enemy has not yet completed the initial phase of preparatory steps.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, Russian forces expand the zone of FPV drone employment, although they do not advance and increasingly strike the near rear of Ukrainian Defense Forces, increasingly employ dormant drones in areas where Ukrainian forces previously moved freely. The enemy attempts to restore command and control after the loss of the Starlink network.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 145 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy attempted three times to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in the Prylipka area and in the direction of Zybine.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked three times in the directions of Pishchane, Petropavlivka and Hlushkivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 27 attempts of the occupiers to penetrate Ukrainian defense toward Drobysheve, Dibrova, Lyman, in the Zarichne area, to advance in the areas of Yampil, Dronivka, Platonivka, Zakitne, Riznykivka and in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka were stopped.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy conducted 14 attacks in the areas of the settlements Kostyantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Ivanopillya, Berestok, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka and in the direction of Illinivka and Novopavlivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, 22 assault actions of the aggressor were stopped in the areas of Shakhove, Chervonyi Lyman, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Molodetske and in the direction of Bilytske.
On the Oleksandrivka direction, the enemy attacked seven times in the areas of Vorone, Ternove, Zlahoda and Stepove.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 34 attacks of the occupiers occurred in the areas of Huliaypole, Myrne and in the direction of Svyatopetrivka, Zaliznychne, Dobropillya and Staroukrainka.
On the Orikhiv direction, a combat engagement with the enemy occurred near Plavni.
On the Prydniprovske direction, an enemy attack was repelled.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 22nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps delivers strikes in Ryzhivka.
The 9th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 18th Motorized Rifle Division of the 11th Army Corps operates near Starytsia.
The 346th Separate SOF Brigade delivers strikes on the Kostyantynivka direction, the 68th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes near Mykolaypillya.
The enemy “Tsentr (Center)” Operational Grouping includes the forces of the 51st Combined Arms Army (the 1st, 5th, 9th, 110th, 114th, 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades), the 2nd Combined Arms Army (the 27th Motorized Rifle Division, the 15th, 30th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades), part of the forces of the 41st Combined Arms Army (the 35th, 55th and part of the forces of the 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade).
The 56th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army delivers strikes near Bilytske.
Possible operation situation developments:
The enemy has begun preparations for this year’s summer campaign. 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 intensify operations 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 attempt to advance from the Dvorichanske bridgehead 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. To restore the situation in the Kupyansk area, the enemy intensifies operations in the offensive zone of the 47th Tank Division of the 1st Tank Army, which conducts a frontal offensive on Kupyansk from the east. Attempts by the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army to eliminate the bridgehead of the 16th Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces on the Oskil east of Kupyansk will continue.
On the Sloviansk Direction, the command of the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army has an immediate task to reach the Mykolaivka – Nykanorivka line with its main forces, that is, to reach the near approaches to Sloviansk from the east, and reach the Vasylivska Pustosh – Vasyutynske line with part of its forces, that is, the near approaches to Kramatorsk from the east.
On the Kostyantynivka direction, the command of Russian forces 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 seize Kostyantynivka by assault 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, that is, to the central and western parts of Kostyantynivka, which will slow the assault actions of the enemy 3rd Army Corps in the city itself.
The enemy “Vostok (East)” Operational Grouping will attempt to break through toward the Omelnyk – Yehorivka – Chervona Krynytsia area in order to envelop Orikhiv. The adversary will be unable to continue advancing along a broad front without redeploying forces to the Huliaypole Direction, but even this will not allow it to achieve a significant operational result. In the event of an enemy breakthrough to the eastern outskirts of Orikhiv, it will become separated from the offensive of the 58th Combined Arms Army west of the city.
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 02.03.26
Personnel - almost 1,267 730 (+980);
Tanks – 11,713 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,111 (+3);
Artillery systems – 37,795 (+74);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,665 (+3);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,313 (+5);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 80,757 (+247);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 348 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 153,169 (+1,810);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,384 (0);
Boats/ships – 31 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, since the evening of 1 March Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 94 strike UAVs of various types, including Shahed, Gerbera and Italmas. As of 08:00 air defense shot down and suppressed 84 drones. At the same time, strikes by 10 strike UAVs were recorded at 4 locations, as well as debris falling at 2 locations. About 70 of the attacking systems were Shaheds. As of the morning, the attack continued, with several hostile UAVs remaining in the airspace.
According to the Ministry of Energy, during the night of 2 March the Russian army again attacked energy infrastructure facilities in several Oblasts of Ukraine. As a result, power outages were recorded in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy Oblasts.
According to the Head of the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration Oleksandr Hanzha, during the night of 2 March Russian forces attacked the Oblast. In Kryvyi Rih several fires broke out on the territory of an enterprise, while in Apostolove a transport enterprise was damaged. In the Synelnykove District, as a result of a strike on the Pokrovske community, a 55-year-old man was killed; his body was recovered from under the rubble of a destroyed house. In the Nikopol District, a five-storey building was damaged in the district center and in the Myrivske community.
According to the Head of the Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration Viacheslav Chaus, during the night a Russian UAV struck a residential building in a village of the Snovsk community. As a result of the attack a fire broke out, a house was destroyed, and an elderly woman was killed. A hostile drone also attacked a heat supply facility in the Semenivka community. In total, over the past day the occupiers carried out 40 strikes on the Oblast, with 67 explosions recorded.
According to the Head of the Kramatorsk City Military Administration Oleksandr Honcharenko, in the morning of 2 March Russian forces attacked Kramatorsk and Druzhkivka. At 05:00 the occupiers struck Druzhkivka with a UAV, injuring three 72-year-old pensioners. At around 08:14 the enemy shelled a civilian infrastructure facility in Kramatorsk with artillery, killing two women and a man.
In the evening of 1 March Russian forces struck the private sector of Sumy, injuring an 87-year-old woman. Civilian infrastructure was also damaged: 4 residential buildings and 12 window units were destroyed.
Russian forces struck a suburban passenger train in the Kryvyi Rih District of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. As a result of the attack one person was killed and seven others were injured. Among the injured were two children — a 10-year-old girl and a 17-year-old boy.
According to the Head of the Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Oleh Syniehubov, during the day a hostile UAV struck an apartment building in the Shevchenkivskyi District of the city. People were injured as a result of the attack.
According to the State Emergency Service press service, Russian forces struck Komyshuvakha of Zaporizhzhia District with guided aerial bombs. As a result of the attack a 61-year-old woman and a 66-year-old man were injured. Another 67-year-old woman was rescued from under the rubble of a destroyed house. Shelling destroyed two private houses and caused a fire at one address, and destroyed and ignited an outbuilding at another.
According to the Head of the Chuhuiv community Halyna Minaieva, the Russian army struck a critical infrastructure facility in Kharkiv Oblast with a UAV. As a result of the strike the settlement of Kamiana Yaruga lost power. Also, due to reduced water pressure, water supply is absent on upper floors in many apartment buildings in Chuhuiv.
According to the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets, thanks to the joint work of state bodies and international partners 6,422 Ukrainians have been returned, including 409 civilians. A total of 2,016 children were also returned home, including 419 with the assistance of the Ombudsman’s Office. Lubinets expressed special gratitude for assistance in returning the children to the State of Qatar and the First Lady of the United States Melania Trump.
According to a KMIS poll conducted on 12–24 February 2026, 70% of Ukrainians do not believe that the current negotiations involving Russia and the United States will lead to lasting peace, while only 25% believe in a positive outcome. The institute’s Executive Director Anton Hrushetskyi noted that such skepticism is primarily driven by Russia’s position, its uncompromising statements, and the continued terror against the civilian population. Sociologists emphasize that despite readiness to discuss difficult compromises, Ukrainians do not agree to conditions that would amount to de facto capitulation of the country.
According to the spokesperson of the Kyiv City Military Administration Kateryna Pop, as of 2 March heat supply is absent in 1,126 buildings in Kyiv. About 900 of them are located on the left bank and were disconnected due to the shutdown of a critical infrastructure facility. Another approximately 100 buildings remain without heating due to local accidents.