02/21/2026
The Ukrainian Armed Forces are having success in the Novopavlivske direction. In addition, our defenders have advanced in the Hulyaipil direction.
In particular, near Gulyaipol, they are striking at the positions of the Russian invaders, which could hinder the intentions of the Russian command regarding a possible summer offensive. This is stated in a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War.
The situation in the Novopavlivske direction
According to geolocation materials published on February 20, a recent advance of Ukrainian Armed Forces units in the eastern part of Novopavlivka was recorded.
At the same time, on February 19–20, Russian troops carried out attacks in the direction of Novopavlivka itself, as well as to the northeast – near Muravka and Novomykolaivka, and to the south – in the area of Filia.
The situation in the Hulyaipil direction
Geolocation videos from February 19 show Ukrainian forces advancing west of Zaliznychne near Hulyaipol and striking Russian positions in northern Zlaga.
Russian troops simultaneously attacked near Hulyaipol itself, as well as to the northwest and northeast of the city, including the areas of Svyatopetrivka, Vozdvizhivka, Rizdvyanka, Verkhnya Tersa, Zelenye, Olenokostyantynivka, Zlagoda, Zaliznychny, Staroukrainka, and Gorky.
Ukrainian counterattacks are reportedly holding back enemy offensive operations in this direction, including areas near Andriivka and Zaliznychne.
“Ukrainian military observer Konstantin Mashovets reported on February 20 that units of the Russian 36th Combined Arms Army (Eastern Military District) cannot cover the northern flank of the 5th Military District’s area of responsibility (east and northeast of Hulyaipol) as they are defending against Ukrainian counterattacks along the seam between the 36th and 29th Military Districts in the neighboring Oleksandrivka direction,” the material states.
Mashovets reported that in recent days, Russian troops have transferred reserves of the 69th Separate Cover Brigade to the area between the 29th and 36th Military Districts. He noted that units of the 5th Military District are continuing their offensive in the Hulyaipil direction, despite the threat of Ukrainian counterattacks on the northern flank.
According to his assessment, the successful actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during these counterattacks could disrupt the Russian command’s plans for a possible summer offensive if Ukrainian forces manage to cut the Hulyaipole – Velyka Novosilka road.
We will remind, according to the spokesman of the Southern Defense Forces, Colonel Vladyslav Voloshyn, the occupiers are not reducing the pressure in the Zaporizhia region in the Hulyaipil direction. Fierce fighting is ongoing there , and the enemy is actively trying to oust the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Hulyaipil, but he is not succeeding.
As OBOZ.UA wrote, ISW analysts previously reported that Ukrainian fighters were making progress in the Kupyansk direction and had advanced into the center of Kupyansk itself, where they repelled attacks by individual assault groups of the invaders. At the same time, Russian troops have recently been successfully advancing in the Slavyansk direction.