Russia’s war on Ukraine. 28.03.26
Operational situation
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Starytsya, Vovchanski Khutory, Izbytske, Zybyne, and Ambarne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold the dominant high ground near Lyptsi.
On the Kupyansk Direction, Russian forces attacked near Petropavlivka, Podoly, Pishchane, and Kurylivka, in the direction of Novoosynove, Kivsharivka, Novoplatonivka, and Bohuslavka, near Borivska Andriivka, Nadiia, Shyikivka, Tverdokhlibove, and Serednie.
Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed a Tor-M1 SAM system launcher southeast of Pysarivka, fuel depots near Aidar and Raihorodka, and struck an enemy concentration area near Kamyanka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Russian forces attempted to advance to the southern outskirts of Lyman, attacked near Stavky and Drobysheve, in the direction of Svyatohirsk, near Yampil, Dibrova, Platonivka, Zakitne, Kalenyky, Kryva Luka, and Riznykivka, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka and Mykolaivka, near Nykyforivka, Vasyukivka, and Fedorivka Druha, in the direction of Lypivka.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked from Mykolaivka.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, enemy infiltration groups operate in the south of Berestok and the south of Illinivka. Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Markove, and Minkivka, in the direction of Chervone, near Ivanopillya, Pleshchiivka, Berestok, Illinivka, Stepanivka, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, Novopavlivka, and Sofiivka.
Ukrainain Defense Forces hold positions northeast of Novodmytrivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Kucheriv Yar, Novyi Donbas, Shakhove, and Nove Shakhove, in the direction of Hannivka, near Zaporizhzhia, near Pokrovsk and Hryshyne, in the direction of Novooleksandrivka, Serhiivka, and Vasylivka, near Bilytske, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Svitle, Udachne, Molodetske, Novopidhorodnie, and Kotlyne.
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck an enemy concentration area near Dorizhne and struck enemy infiltration groups in the eastern and southeastern parts of Bilytske.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked near Novoserhiyivka, Novomykolayivka, Muravka, Oleksandrohrad, Krasnohirske, Vyshneve, and Ternuvate.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked near Andriivka-Klevtsove, struck enemy infiltration groups in the center of Ternove, and struck a logistics hub, concentration area, and command post in Velyka Novosilka; ammunition depots of the 165th Separate Logistics Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army near Makedonivka and Buryakova Balka; an enemy concentration area near Luhanske; a command post near Olhynka; a 58th Combined Arms Army ammunition depot near Manhush; and a logistics depot of the 165th Separate Logistics Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army near Rybynskе.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces attacked near Huliaypole, Svyatopetrivka, and Zelene, in the direction of Vozdvyzhivka, Rizdvyanka, and Verkhnya Tersa, near Myrne and Zaliznychne, in the direction of Staroukrainka and Huliaypilske.
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a logistics depot near Novoselivka and an enemy concentration at a training range near Novopetrovske.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces attacked near Prymorske, Stepnohirsk, Mala Tokmachka, Stepove, and Shcherbaky.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a “Valdai” radar near Hvardiyske, a “Forpost” UAV control station in Yevpatoria, and an unmanned surface vessel control station in Sevastopol.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the “Severstal” metallurgical plant in Cherepovets, Vologda Oblast; the Smolensk aircraft plant; and the “Promsyntez” explosive manufacturing plant in Chapaevsk, Samara Oblast.
Overall assessment of changes in the operational situation:
Russian forces continue to exploit difficult weather conditions and infiltration tactics in the Kostyantynivka–Druzhkivka tactical zone, using smoke screens to conduct attacks. The enemy is preparing to increase assault intensity as the ground dries out, is rotating units, but no signs of force concentration are observed. Ukrainian Defense Forces have covered roads near Kramatorsk and Sloviansk with anti-drone netting.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces recently resumed offensive attempts; the sides’ positions are intermingled along the front line, forming a large grey zone without a clear front line.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 181 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk Directions, 5 combat engagements took place.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy 5 times assaulted Defense Forces unit positions toward Prylipka, Vovchansk, Zybyne, Mala Vovcha, and Okhrymivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked 8 times toward Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Hlushkivka, Novoplatonivka, Podoly, Novoosynove, and Pishchane.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 15 enemy attempts to penetrate the defense toward Novoserhiyivka, Stavky, Drobysheve, and Lyman, in the area of Serednie, and to advance near Platonivka and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka and Riznykivka were stopped.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy carried out 38 attacks toward Markove, Chervone, Kostyantynivka, Ivanopillya, Illinivka, Stepanivka, and Novopavlivka, and in the areas of Pleshchiivka, Rusyn Yar, Yablunivka, and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, 36 enemy assault actions were stopped in the areas of Nykanorivka, Myrnohrad, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Hryshyne, Kotlyne, Udachne, Muravka, and Novomykolayivka, and toward Kucheriv Yar, Bilytske, Nove Shakhove, Novopidhorodnie, and Novopavlivka.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, the enemy attacked 4 times toward Oleksandrohrad, Verbove, and Kalynivske.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 21 enemy attacks took place toward Varvarivka, Staroukrainka, Olenokostyantynivka, Zelene, and Zaliznychne, and in the area of Myrne.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, an attack near Antonivskyi Bridge was repelled.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The 41st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 72nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 44th Army Corps operates near Myropillya; the 83rd Separate Air Assault Brigade and the 1st Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment of the 106th Airborne Division operate in the border zone of Kursk Oblast. Units of the “Rubikon” Center for Advanced Unmanned Technologies operate on the Northern Slobozhansky Direction.
The 375th Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion of the 47th Tank Division and the 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 1st Tank Army operate near Kupyansk. The 2nd Battalion of the 15th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 1st Tank Army operates near Bohuslavka.
The 37th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army strikes northwest of Staryi Karavan; the 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army assaults Ukrainian positions northeast of Rai-Oleksandrivka; the 164th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 25th Combined Arms Army and the 144th Motorized Rifle Division of the 20th Combined Arms Army advance in the direction of Lyman.
The 1008th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 6th Motorized Rifle Division of the 3rd Army Corps strikes in Kostyantynivka; the 150th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes near Rayske, Pryiut, and Novomykolayivka; the 255th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army and the 58th Separate SOF Battalion of the 51st Combined Arms Army operate on the Kostyantynivka Direction.
The 74th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 41st Combined Arms Army strikes with multiple launch rocket systems in the direction of Dobropillya.
The 200th Artillery Brigade of the 29th Combined Arms Army strikes west of Berezove.
The 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes near Chervona Krynytsia; the 291st Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 42nd Motorized Rifle Division of the 58th Combined Arms 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.
The “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping command will focus on Kupyansk and expanding the southern part of the bridgehead on the Oskil rather than on tactical operations in the border zone. The 121st and 122nd Motorized Rifle Regiments of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division will actively support the advance of 1st Tank Army forces from the north in its offensive on Kupyansk and may be reinforced by a number of elements of the 69th Motorized Rifle Division as part of such a decision.
In the Kupyansk area, forces of the 1st Tank Army (47th Tank Division, 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade), elements of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division, 4th Tank Division, and 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army will under any circumstances attempt to eliminate the Defense Forces bridgehead east of Kupyansk and seize the city in the near term. The 1st Tank Army delivers its main effort in the direction of Pishchane–Kurylivka, that is, in the 47th Tank Division’s offensive sector, which is attempting to break through to Kivsharivka, consolidate there, and reach Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi with its main forces. The 27th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade and forward units of the 68th Motorized Rifle Division of the 6th Combined Arms Army periodically attempt to break through to Zaoskillia from the direction of Lyman Pershyi and in the direction of Vilshana–Petropavlivka, restore their positions in the western part of Kupyansk by attacking along the Oskil River from their bridgehead on it, with the aim of pinning Ukrainian Defense Forces units against the river or forcing them to withdraw from the Kolisnykivka and Hlushkivka area northward, while simultaneously preventing them from organizing a stable defense in the Zaoskillia area and in Kupyansk-Vuzlovyi. The task of seizing Kupyansk is currently of considerable importance to Russian military and political leadership, yet the Kupyansk Direction is unlikely to become the main focus of the enemy’s offensive campaign.
On the Sloviansk Direction, in a tactical perspective, the adversary’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping will move to the decisive phase of the battles for the Defense Forces’ Lyman bridgehead on the Siverskyi Donets and will attempt to capture Lyman. The adversary’s Svatove grouping of forces, intentionally separated from the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping, will attack more actively in the direction of Borova. Ukrainian Defense Forces’ confident control over the areas of the Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant, Mykolaivka, and Raihorodka allows for the provision of stable logistics for the Lyman defense area of the 3rd Army Corps of Ukrainian Defense Forces from the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets. With the aim of destroying logistics first and foremost, the adversary will increase fire impact on the Raihorodok – Staryi Karavan – Starodubivka – Sloviansk Thermal Power Plant area. The envelopment of the Lyman defense area from the northwest and southeast by troops of the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies may significantly assist the adversary in its further assault on the city itself. Therefore, before the assault on Lyman, the 20th Combined Arms Army will attempt to fully occupy the Yarova – Novoselivka – Drobysheve – Pryshyb area and subsequently attempt to reach the Oleksandrivka – Sosnove line and break through to Svyatohirsk.
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. 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 28.03.26
Personnel - almost 1,294 470 (+1,300);
Tanks – 11,812 (+4);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,297 (+10);
Artillery systems – 38,936 (+73);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,707 (+7);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,337 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 85,796 (+227);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 350 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 202,112 (+1501);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,491 (0);
Boats/ships – 35 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of 28 March Russian forces attacked Ukraine with 273 UAVs, with Odesa Oblast as the main axis of the strike. Air defense forces shot down or suppressed 252 enemy drones. Hits from 21 strike UAVs were recorded at 18 locations, with debris falling at 9 more. After 07:00, the enemy carried out repeat drone strikes on Odesa Oblast and other regions in the north and east; the results of these operations are still being assessed.
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the night of 28 March Russian forces carried out a massed strike on Odesa, launching more than 60 UAVs. The attack damaged a maternity hospital, residential buildings, enterprises, and port and critical infrastructure. One person is known to have been killed and more than ten injured, including a child. Subsequently, another injured person died in hospital.
According to the Administration of Sea Ports of Ukraine and Odesa Oblast Military Administration head Oleh Kiper, on the morning of 28 March Russian forces attacked the infrastructure of one of the Greater Odesa ports with UAVs. Hits were recorded on the territory of the enterprise and an adjacent terminal, damaging mooring infrastructure elements, a grain gallery, and a technical tank. There were no casualties. The port continues to operate given the security situation.
According to Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration head Oleksandr Hanzha, on the morning of 28 March Russian occupiers attacked Kryvyi Rih with Shahed UAVs, killing one man and injuring two more. Damage was also recorded at an industrial enterprise where fires broke out. According to Kryvyi Rih Defense Council head Oleksandr Vilkul, on the morning of 28 March Russian forces attacked the city’s industrial and energy infrastructure a second time. Details of the consequences of the strike are not yet being disclosed.
According to the Poltava Oblast Military Administration, overnight on 28 March Russian UAVs attacked Poltava district. Hits were recorded on a residential building and industrial facilities. At least one person was killed in the attack. As of the morning, an air raid alert has been declared again in the district.
According to National JSC “Naftogaz Ukrainy,” Russian forces have been conducting massed attacks on the company’s gas extraction assets in Poltava Oblast for the third consecutive day. On the night and morning of 28 March, three production facilities were struck by UAVs. A 55-year-old process equipment operator was killed in one of the attacks. Operations on the damaged equipment have been halted and emergency services are working on site to address the consequences.
According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, at around 12:00 on 28 March Russian forces shelled a residential building with artillery in Znob-Novhorodska community in Seredyna-Buda district of Sumy Oblast. A 20-year-old woman was killed in the attack and her 6-year-old sister was seriously injured.
According to Bring Kids Back UA, a 14-year-old girl and her mother have been returned from temporarily occupied territory to Ukrainian-controlled territory. For four years the family lived under constant pressure: Russian military personnel conducted searches, intimidated them, threatened them with eviction, and last year confiscated their vehicle along with their documents.