03/22/2026
Fierce fighting is taking place along the entire front line in Ukraine. Defenders have recently advanced in the Kupyansk and Oleksandrivsk directions, as well as recaptured positions in the center of Chasovy Yar in the Donetsk region.
Both the Defense Forces and the occupiers are advancing in the Pokrovsky direction, and the Russians have also carried out an infiltration mission in the Sumy region. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported on the situation on the front.
Sumy region
ISW analysts confirmed the recent penetration of Russian troops into the north of Sumy region.
Geolocation footage from March 20 captured Ukrainian strikes on a building in the southeastern part of Yunakivka, in which Russian attack aircraft were stationed.
“ISW estimates that this was a Russian infiltration mission that has not yet changed control of the terrain or the front line of the combat zone,” the report states.
During March 20 and 21, Russian troops advanced north of the city of Sumy in the area of Oleksiivka, Korchakivka, Kostyantynivka, Novomykolaivka and Kindrativka and in the direction of Novaya Sich, northeast of the city of Sumy in the area of Yunakivka, Yablunivka and Khrapivshchyna and in the direction of Myropillya and southeast of Hlushkovo, Kursk Oblast in the area of Kucherov and Ozerkiv.
On March 21, the 14th Army Corps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine published a video showing the Ukrainian flag on a water tower in Pokrovka (southeast of the city of Sumy), and reported that Ukrainian troops had installed the flag to refute Russia’s claims of capturing the settlement: it is under fire control of the Defense Forces.
Kharkiv region
On March 21, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the north of the Kharkiv region, but did not advance.
On March 20 and 21, Russian troops advanced north of Kharkiv near Zeleny and northeast of Kharkiv near Prylipka, Synelnyky, Starytsia, Vovchansk and Vovchansky Khutor , as well as towards Okhrimivka and Verkhnya Pysarivka .
Neither Ukrainian nor Russian sources reported any ground activity in the direction of Velyky Burluk on March 21.
Ukrainian troops have recently advanced in the Kupyansk direction.
Geolocation video footage from March 21 confirmed the recent advance of the Defense Forces south of Pishchane (southeast of Kupyansk). The video shows drone operators from the 375th Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion of the Russian Armed Forces striking communications equipment at Ukrainian positions in the area.
Russian propagandists, meanwhile, claimed that the occupiers had advanced into the center of Kurylivka, but there is currently no evidence of such an advance.
On March 20 and 21, Russian forces attacked east of Kupyansk near Petropavlivka and southeast of Kupyansk near Kurylivka and Hlushkivka, as well as in the direction of Kupyansk-Vuzlovye.
Meanwhile, Z-bloggers continue to criticize the Russian military command for its failures and lies about the occupation of Kupyansk. A new wave of criticism arose after reports that Ukrainian soldiers had cleared the encircled Russian positions in the city.
“Russian military bloggers have criticized the Russian Defense Ministry for falsely claiming that Russian troops have captured Kupyansk, and expressed concern that the department is unlikely to honor the memory of Russian soldiers who were recently eliminated in the center of Kupyansk, as it does not consider the city to be a zone of active hostilities,” the ISW article says.
One of the Russian propagandists, a former instructor from the Russian unit “Storm-Z”, linked the terrible situation for the Russian Federation in Kupyansk to the incident that led to the suicide of the famous pro-war Russian blogger Andrei “Murza” Morozov in February 2024.
“Morozov reportedly committed suicide after the Russian military command forced him to censor his reports about the high level of casualties suffered by Russian troops while trying to capture Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. Morozov’s suicide has since become a flashpoint in the Russian ultranationalist information space,” the analysts added.
On March 20 and 21, Russian forces continued limited offensive operations north of Borova near Novoplatonivka, but made no progress.
Geolocation videos published on March 20 show Russian troops carrying out an airstrike on the Oskilskaya hydroelectric power station bridge over the Oskil River.
Donetsk region
ISW found no geolocation records indicating Russian troops advancing towards Sloviansk on March 21 – despite the fact that the Russians had recently begun ground operations there.
On March 20 and 21, Russian forces attacked northwest of Lyman near Drobysheve; southeast of Lyman near Yampol; northeast of Sloviansk near Platonovka; east of Sloviansk towards Riznykivka and Kryvaya Luka; and southeast of Sloviansk near Fedorivka Druha, Lypivka, and Dibrova, as well as towards Rai-Oleksandrivka and Pazeny.
According to ISW, the Defense Forces have likely regained limited positions in Chasovye Yar (northeast of Kostyantynivka) after counterattacks began in the area.
Geolocation videos published on March 18 and 21 indicate that Ukrainian troops recently recaptured some positions in the central part of Chasovye Yar.
Russian Z-bloggers claimed that Ukrainian troops counterattacked in the direction of Chasovy Yar, but Russian troops allegedly repelled the attacks.
“The current extent of Ukrainian positions in Chasovoye Yar remains unclear. Russian forces spent over 26 months reaching Chasovoye Yar and capturing it after occupying Bakhmut in May 2023,” the analysts added.
Russian forces attacked near Kostyantynivka itself; east of Kostyantynivka near Chasovy Yar; southeast of Kostyantynivka near Pleshchiivka; south of Kostyantynivka near Illinivka; south of Druzhkivka near Rusyny Yar and Berestok; and southwest of Druzhkivka near Sofiivka and Novopavlivka on March 20 and 21.
On March 21, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the Dobropillya tactical area, but did not advance.
Geolocation footage released on March 20 shows Ukrainian forces striking Russian positions in northwestern Dorozhne (southeast of Dobropillya) after ISW assessed that a Russian infiltration mission had not changed control of the area or the front line of the combat zone.
On March 21, Russian troops attacked east of Dobropillya near Vilny and Novy Donbas, as well as in the direction of Kucherovy Yar.
Ukrainian and Russian troops have recently advanced in the Pokrovskoye direction.
Geolocation video footage released on March 20 shows that Ukrainian forces have recently made minor advances in the northwestern part of Hryshynye (northwest of Pokrovsk).
And footage released on March 21 shows that Russian troops have recently advanced north of Pokrovsk and west of Rodynske (north of Pokrovsk).
“The presence of Russian troops west of Rodynske indicates that Russian troops likely captured the settlement earlier,” the analysts added.
No confirmation was found of the statements of Russian propagandists about the alleged advance of the occupiers in eastern and southern Bilytske (north of Pokrovsk).
Russian forces attacked near Pokrovsk itself; northwest of Pokrovsk towards Sergiyevka; north of Pokrovsk near Rodynskoye and Bilytsky; northeast of Pokrovsk near Chervonye (Red) Lyman; east of Pokrovsk near Myrnograd; and southwest of Pokrovsk near Molodetsky, Novopidgorodny, and Udachny on March 20 and 21.
The commander of one of the Ukrainian battalions in the Pokrovsky direction reported on March 21 that Russian troops were using different routes during motorized assaults to allow small groups to penetrate inside, distracting Ukrainians and aerial reconnaissance, adapting their tactics based on previous experience.
On March 20 and 21, Russian forces continued offensive operations near Novopavlivka itself; northeast of Novopavlivka near Novomykolaivka and Bilyakivka; and south of Novopavlivka near Filia.
Recently, the Russians conducted an infiltration in the Oleksandrivka direction.
Geolocation videos released on March 20 captured Russian military personnel operating in the southern part of Ternovo (southeast of Oleksandrivka) during what ISW estimates was a Russian infiltration mission that has not changed control of the area or the front line of the combat zone at this time.
On March 20 and 21, Russian forces advanced northeast of Oleksandrivka in the Ivanivka area and southeast of Oleksandrivka in the Ternovo, Kalynivske, Krasnohirske, and Zlagoda areas. A Russian blogger claimed that Ukrainian forces counterattacked near Novooleksandrivka (southeast of Oleksandrivka) and Kosivtsevo (southwest of Oleksandrivka).
Russian forces continue to attempt to establish a stable defense in the Oleksandrivka sector. An officer of a Ukrainian battalion operating in this sector of the front reported on March 20 that Russian forces have been unable to stop the advance of Ukrainian forces in the Oleksandrivka sector, despite the redeployment of unspecified special forces units, including drone units, to this sector.
The officer noted that the advance of Ukrainian troops had slowed down due to changing weather conditions, but added that Ukrainian troops were continuing to advance because Russian troops had failed to establish stable defensive lines.
Zaporizhia region
On March 21, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the Hulyaipol direction, but did not advance.
Russian forces attacked near Hulyaipol itself; northwest of Hulyaipol near Olenokostyantynivka and on Verkhnia Tersa and Vozdvizhivka; north of Hulyaipol near Zelenye, Dobropillya, Varvarivka; west of Hulyaipol near Zaliznychne and Staroukrainka ; and southwest of Hulyaipol near Myrne and on Charivne and Hulyaipolske on March 20 and 21.
On March 21, Russian troops continued offensive operations in the west of Zaporizhia region, but did not advance.
Russian troops advanced southeast of Orekhov near Luhivske; west of Orekhov near Stepnohirsk and Primorske; and northwest of Orekhov near Richno and Pavlovka and on Veselyanka, Novoboykivske, Novoyakovlivka, and Magdalinivka on March 20 and 21.
Kherson region
On March 20 and 21, Russian troops continued limited offensive operations in the Kherson direction, in particular northeast of Kherson near the Antonivskyi Bridge, but did not advance.
ISW added that the defenders destroyed the commander of the 1st battalion of the 331st Airborne Regiment of the Russian Federation, Alexander Soldatov, in the Kherson region. He was eliminated near the occupied Oleshki (southeast of Kherson) on February 27.
As OBOZ.UA reported, according to ISW estimates, the Russian Federation has already launched a spring-summer offensive .
The occupiers have intensified hostilities in key areas of the Donetsk region and have probably moved to a new phase of offensive operations. The main pressure is directed at the areas of the Ukrainian “belt of fortresses”, in particular the Lymansky, Sloviansky, Kramatorsk and Kostyantynivsky directions.