Russia’s war on Ukraine. 29.03.26
Operational situation
On the Northern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Tovstodubove, Ulanove, Shostka, Kindrativka, and Nova Sich.
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a fuel depot near Unecha, Bryansk Oblast.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, Russian forces attacked near Vovchansk, Starytsya, Vovchanski Khutory, Izbytske, Mala Vovcha, Okhrymivka, Prylypky, Lyptsi, Verkhnya Pysarivka, Zybyne, and Chuhunivka.
On the Kupyansk Direction, enemy infiltration groups operate in the northwest of Kupyansk. Russian forces attacked near Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, Pishchane, Hlushkivka, and Podoly, in the direction of Novoosynove, near Novoplatonivka and Serednie, in the direction of Novoserhiyivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces advanced in the east of Lyman and counterattacked near the Serebriansk forest area.
Russian forces fought for Brusivka, attacked near Lyman, Novoselivka, Stavky, and Drobysheve, in the direction of Svyatohirsk, near Yampil and Dibrova, in the direction of Staryi Karavan, near Platonivka, Zakitne, Kalenyky, and Riznykivka, in the direction of Rai-Oleksandrivka, near Nykyforivka.
The enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army delivers its main effort in the general northwest direction on both sides of the Sloviansk–Bakhmut road with the 123rd, 85th, and 88th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades, which have reached the Lypivka–Fedorivka Druha line, advancing north of the Vasyukivka river to a depth of up to 10 km and penetrating the 3rd Army Corps’ defenses at multiple points in the areas of Pryvillya, Minkivka, and Novomarkove. Ukrainian Defense Forces’ 3rd Army Corps holds some positions west of Vasyukivka, thereby restraining the enemy north of the road in the Lypivka–Nykyforivka–Fedorivka Druha area. Forward elements of the 3rd Combined Arms Army continue active offensive and assault operations with the aim of breaking through the 3rd Army Corps’ tactical defensive zone. Forward units of the 127th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army are attempting to advance along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets river in the directions of Zakitne–Kryva Luka, Platonivka–Kalenyky, and Svyato-Pokrovske–Riznykivka, reach the Mykolaivka–Rai-Oleksandrivka line, and break through to the Starodubivka and Piskunivka area. Their attempts to break into Kryva Luka have been unsuccessful. In the Zakitne area, Ukrainian Defense Forces pushed the enemy back and continue to hold part of the village.
Enemy assault groups operating on the Zakitne–Riznykivka line have reduced the intensity of assault operations due to the growing resistance of the 3rd Army Corps’ forward units in this area. Following the infiltration of several infantry groups between Kryva Luka and Riznykivka, they have been unable to advance further for a week. Enemy units do not control either Kalenyky or Riznykivka, being present there only in very small, isolated groups. The stubborn defense of Zakitne is forcing the “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping command to transfer part of the forces operating south of the Lyman–Siversk road to that area, reducing pressure in the general direction toward Rai-Oleksandrivka from the northeast.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, Ukrainain Defense Forces hold positions in the northeast of Kostyantynivka and counterattack near Chasiv Yar.
Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka, Markove, and Chasiv Yar, in the direction of Chervone, near Predtechyne, Ivanopillya, Kleban-Byk, Pleshchiivka, Berestok, Illinivka, Stepanivka, Yablunivka, Rusyn Yar, Novopavlivka, and Sofiivka.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, Russian forces attacked in the direction of Kucheriv Yar, Nove Shakhove, Zaporizhzhia, Pokrovsk, and Hryshyne, in the direction of Shevchenkove, Serhiivka, and Novooleksandrivka, near Bilytske, Chervonyi Lyman, Myrnohrad, Udachne, Molodetske, Novopidhorodnie, and Kotlyne, and attempted to advance west of Rodynske.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, Russian forces attacked near Muravka, Novomykolayivka, Dachne, Filiya, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Sosnivka, Andriivka-Klevtsove, and Sichneve, in the direction of Havrylivka, near Zlahoda, Oleksandrohrad, and Kalynivske, in the direction of Verbove.
Ukrainian Defense Forces counterattacked toward Andriivka-Klevtsove, Berezove, and Fedorivka, struck an enemy concentration area near Sichneve in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, struck Herber and Shahed UAV position areas at Donetsk airport, fuel depots on the outskirts of Donetsk, ammunition depots near Manhush and Hlyboke, a damaged vehicle collection point near Prokhorivka, an electronic warfare unit position area in Luhansk, and a logistics depot in Manhush.
On the Huliaypole Direction, Russian forces advanced north of Zalizne, attacked near Huliaypole and Olenokostyantynivka, in the direction of Verkhnya Tersa, Vozdvyzhivka, Varvarivka, Dobropillya, Zelene, Hirke, Zaliznychne, Staroukrainka, Myrne, and Huliaypilske.
On the Orikhiv Direction, Russian forces attacked near Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Stepove, Prymorske, and Stepnohirsk.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, Ukrainian Defense Forces struck a UAV command post near Nova Kakhovka, a command post near Lyubymivka, a combat vehicle concentration area near Blahovishchenka, and a logistics depot near Mezhyhiria in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.
Supporting operation:
Ukrainian Defense Forces struck the Yaroslavl oil refinery. Fires continue at the NOVATEK–Ust-Luga oil refinery and the “Transneft–Port Primorsk” oil terminal.
Overall assessment of changes in the operational situation:
Russian forces are waiting for improved weather conditions to intensify offensive operations on the Kupyansk Direction; they have largely exhausted their resources but are preparing to intensify the offensive with the arrival of leaf cover and improved camouflage conditions, periodically attempting to advance toward Kupyansk from the east and having effectively ceased such attempts from the north.
Both Russian groupings (the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping and the 8th Combined Arms Army and 3rd Army Corps of the “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping) that were to complete the preliminary envelopment of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration from the flanks and reach assembly areas for a spring–summer 2026 offensive are well behind schedule.
The “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping command’s concept for the Sloviansk Direction was read fairly well by Ukrainian military command, which organized a more resilient defense precisely on the flank directions of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration than to its east. Available reserves allow for intensive counterattacks at priority points. The “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping command is fairly close to realizing its concept — its assault groups have already reached a line less than 4.5 km southeast of Rai-Oleksandrivka — but the northeastern flank of the 3rd Combined Arms Army has stalled due to the stubborn defense of the Defense Forces’ 3rd Army Corps in the Kryva Luka and Zakitne area and cannot break through to Rai-Oleksandrivka.
Russian forces reduced their offensive tempo on the Sloviansk Direction after the recent intensification but continue infiltration attempts. The enemy failed to consolidate in Lyman and may therefore focus on advancing toward the “fortress belt” from the south through Kostyantynivka.
A hypothetical assault and seizure of Lyman or Kostyantynivka simultaneously with Druzhkivka will not be quick for Russian forces. Without significant reinforcement of the flank groupings, the execution of these tasks will be considerably prolonged, placing the enemy’s 3rd Combined Arms Army in a situation where it will be forced to attack the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s defenses from the east independently — that is, frontally — which substantially reduces the probability of Russian forces seizing the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration during 2026.
Russian forces have intensified offensive operations on the Pokrovsk Direction and are attempting to advance simultaneously on several tactical axes, have intensified assault actions particularly during poor weather conditions, are attempting to advance on the flanks near Hryshyne and in the direction of Rodynske, and are using smoke screens.
Russian forces have recently begun employing “Kniaz Veshchy Oleh” reconnaissance UAVs.
Change in the line of contact (LoC), directions of attacks and counterattacks:
There were 236 combat engagements on various fronts.
On the Southern Slobozhansky Direction, the enemy made 5 attempts to breach defensive lines in the areas of Starytsya, Prylipka, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, and Chuhunivka.
On the Kupyansk direction, the enemy attacked 9 times in the areas of Pishchane, Petropavlivka, and Kruhlyakivka, and toward Novoplatonivka and Kurylivka.
On the Sloviansk Direction, 9 enemy attempts to penetrate the defense toward Drobysheve and Stavky, in the area of Novoselivka, and to advance in the areas of Zakitne, Riznykivka, and Platonivka and toward Rai-Oleksandrivka were stopped.
On the Kostyantynivka Direction, the enemy carried out 30 attacks toward Nykyforivka, in the areas of Predtechyne, Kostyantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Novopavlivka, Kleban-Byk, Ivanopillya, and Yablunivka, and toward Illinivka, Sofiivka, Berestok, and Kucheriv Yar.
On the Pokrovsk Direction, 57 enemy assault actions were stopped in the areas of Bilytske, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolayivka, Novopidhorodnie, Molodetske, Nove Shakhove, Chervonyi Lyman, Novopavlivka, and Dachne, and toward Hryshyne, Shevchenko, and Filiya.
On the Oleksandrivka Direction, the enemy attacked 22 times in the areas of Ternove, Oleksandrohrad, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, and Andriivka-Klevtsove and Sichneve, and toward Sosnivka, Verbove, and Zlahoda.
On the Huliaypole Direction, 33 enemy attacks took place in the areas of Huliaypole, Varvarivka, Olenokostyantynivka, and Myrne, and toward Dobropillya, Zaliznychne, Hirke, Huliaypilske, and Tsvytkove.
On the Orikhiv Direction, the enemy attacked 10 times in the areas of Mala Tokmachka, Novodanylivka, Mali Shcherbaky, and Stepove.
On the Prydniprovske Direction, the enemy carried out 2 assault actions toward Antonivskyi Bridge.
Changes in the enemy disposition:
The enemy’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping continues to advance with part of its forces on the Sloviansk Direction and has in its grouping at this location the 3rd Combined Arms Army (6th, 85th, 88th, 123rd, and 127th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigades), a number of Territorial Forces formations at regiment/battalion level, and part of the forces of the so-called “volunteer assault corps.” The 123rd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes near Kalenyky; the 37th Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 67th Motorized Rifle Division of the 25th Combined Arms Army strikes in the eastern part of Lyman.
The 4th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Combined Arms Army strikes in the western part of Kostyantynivka; the 72nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Army Corps strikes near Kostyantynivka; the 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division of the 8th Combined Arms Army strikes near Rusyn Yar and Mykolaypillya.
The 14th Separate SOF Brigade strikes west of Ternuvate; bombers of the 11th Army of the Air Force and Air Defense strike Ukrainian positions in Velykomykhailivka.
The 2nd Battalion of the 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 5th Combined Arms Army operates on the outskirts of Zaliznychne and strikes southwest of Hirke; the 38th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade of the 35th Combined Arms Army strikes near Huliaypilske.
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.
As a result of the general offensive by the flank groups of the adversary’s 3rd Combined Arms Army along the southern bank of the Siverskyi Donets and on both sides of the Sloviansk – Bakhmut road in previous months, including the capture of Siversk, the command of the adversary’s “Yug (South)” Operational Grouping has gained a number of new tactical opportunities, in addition to the possibility of encircling units of the Defense Forces’ 3rd Separate Corps east of Rai-Oleksandrivka. One option for further actions could be assisting the 20th and 25th Combined Arms Armies of the adversary’s “Zapad (West)” Operational Grouping in the elimination of the Ukrainian Defense Forces’ Lyman bridgehead by cutting off its logistics with a breakthrough into the Mykolaivka area or reaching the immediate approaches to Kramatorsk from the east with a breakthrough to the Vasylivska Pustosh – Vasyutynske line.
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 29.03.26
Personnel - almost 1,295 830 (+1,360);
Tanks – 11,820 (+8);
Armored combat vehicles ‒ 24,313 (+16);
Artillery systems – 39,001 (+65);
Multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) – 1,707 (0);
Anti-aircraft warfare systems – 1,337 (0);
Vehicles and fuel tanks – 85,977 (+181);
Aircraft - 435 (0);
Helicopters – 350 (0);
UAV operational and tactical level – 204,060 (+1,948);
Intercepted cruise and other missiles – 4,491 (0);
Boats/ships – 35 (0).
Humanitarian + general:
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during the week Russia employed more than 3,000 UAVs against Ukraine, a significant portion of which were Shahed type. In addition to drones, the enemy launched more than 1,450 guided aerial bombs and 40 missiles of various types. The President stressed that Russia is not reducing the pace of its war against the Ukrainian state and its people, while simultaneously investing in the prolongation of other conflicts to achieve global destabilization.
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on the night of 29 March Russian forces attacked Ukraine with a Kinzhal aeroballistic missile and 442 UAVs, including around 300 Shaheds. Preliminary reports indicate that air defense forces shot down or suppressed 380 enemy drones. Hits from 16 strike UAVs were recorded at 7 locations, with debris falling at 14 more. As of the morning, the attack is ongoing, with several enemy drones still airborne.
According to Khmelnytsky Oblast Military Administration head Serhiy Tyurin, the Russian occupying army struck Khmelnytsky Oblast. The attack caused power outages in the Oblast.
According to Kyiv Oblast Military Administration head Mykola Kalashnyk, on the night of 29 March the Russian army attacked Kyiv Oblast with UAVs. Air defense forces intercepted nearly three dozen enemy drones. The attack caused minor damage in Bila Tserkva and Boryspil districts, where civilian settlements again came under fire.
According to Odesa City Military Administration head Serhiy Lysak and local media, from Saturday evening until Sunday morning Russian occupying forces continued UAV attacks on Odesa and the Oblast, targeting energy facilities. Air raid alerts were declared several times in the region, with drones maneuvering at ultra-low altitude of around 100 meters. In Odesa, one drone struck a private residential building, and damage was also recorded at a dacha cooperative. In Odesa district, fire engulfed two garages, destroying a vehicle. No casualties were reported, though the strikes caused power outages in a number of settlements in the Oblast.
According to the Chernihiv Oblast Military Administration, on the night of 29 March the Russian aggressor attacked a woodworking enterprise in Novhorod-Siverskyi using at least 5 Geran UAVs. The strikes caused a fire at the enterprise, damaged production facilities, and also damaged nearby residential buildings and a kindergarten. The Oblast Military Administration stressed the absence of any military targets in the area of the strike.
According to NAK “Naftogaz Ukrainy,” Russian forces are attacking the company’s assets for the fourth consecutive day. On 29 March, facilities in Sumy Oblast were struck, causing significant damage and a fire. There were no casualties among employees.
According to the National Police, at 12:36 Russian forces dropped 5 KAB-250 aerial bombs on Kramatorsk. As of 17:30, 3 people have been killed and 13 civilians injured. The strikes damaged 7 apartment buildings, 11 private houses, a bank building, a shop, and a café.
According to Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration head Vitaliy Kim, on Saturday evening in Voskresenka community of Mykolaiv district, ten people were injured in a UAV attack and falling debris at a public recreation area: two women and eight children aged 10 to 16. As of the morning, a 40-year-old woman and two girls are in serious condition, while the other six children are in moderate condition. In the evening, one girl died. Three private houses, three shops, and a vehicle were also damaged in the community, while in Voznesensk district shelling broke windows at an educational facility and damaged a power line, causing a partial power outage in one settlement.
According to Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration head Ivan Fedorov, Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia district on Sunday killed a 75-year-old woman and injured two men. The occupiers struck Zarichne with guided aerial bombs, destroying a private house and a non-residential building where the woman was killed and a 72-year-old man was injured. In Bilenske, an enemy drone damaged a private house, injuring a 77-year-old man.
According to Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, daily video evidence from the front is recording cases of Russian infantry self-destruction, which occurs mostly after UAV wounds or when surrounded by Ukrainian drones. Fedorov noted that such suicides are the result of Russian propaganda urging soldiers to die rather than surrender, combined with the absence of casualty evacuation options. He assessed that March may become a record month for occupier losses, which could exceed 30,000 killed and seriously wounded.
The Southern District Military Court in Rostov-on-Don sentenced three Ukrainians captured during the siege of the Azovstal plant in Mariupol. One received 5.5 years in prison while the other two received 18 and 19 years in a penal colony respectively.