Over the past day, Ukrainian forces encountered 130 combat engagements across various fronts, with the most intense activity reported in the Huliaipole and Pokrovsk directions, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 26 assault and offensive attempts by enemy forces near the settlements of Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Udaichne, and Filia, as well as towards Bilitske, Hryshyne, and Novopidhorodne. Meanwhile, in the Huliaipole direction, the adversary attempted to advance 27 times towards Ukrainian positions around Huliaipole and the nearby areas of Zelenyi, Zaliznychnyi, Huliaipilske, and Olenokostyantynivka.
Combat operations also continued in several other regions, including the Northern Slobozhansky, Kursk, Southern Slobozhansky, Kupiansk, Lyman, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka, and Orikhiv directions.
Recent analyses suggest that the Russian army may be preparing for a significant offensive this spring and summer, potentially targeting the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration or the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia region. This was highlighted by Kostyantyn Mashovets, an analyst from the Information Resistance group, who noted that this could represent a final push for Russia on the front, given its dwindling resources and escalating economic issues domestically.
In late winter, Ukrainian forces managed to disrupt Russian plans by initiating counteroffensive operations at the junction of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, pushing back aggressors from Pokrovsk and further east from Orikhiv. Reports from pro-Russian channels indicate that Ukrainian advances in this area are ongoing.
On February 16, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that Ukrainian troops were conducting effective counterattacks and assault operations in the Oleksandrivka direction and around Huliaipole.
The Ukrainian military reported 130 clashes in a single day, primarily in the Huliaipole and Pokrovsk regions. Ongoing combat operations suggest a potential Russian offensive may be on the horizon, while Ukrainian forces continue to push back against enemy advances.