As of March 19, Ukrainian military officials reported a significant uptick in Russian assaults, with 91 attacks recorded since the start of the day. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine indicated that border regions are facing heavy bombardment, particularly in Sumy Oblast, where towns such as Budky, Iskryskivshchyna, and Ryzhivka have been affected.
For the first time in several days, the Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka directions are not the only areas experiencing intense fighting. Russian forces have ramped up their operations in the South Sloobozhansky and Lyman directions as well.
In the South Sloobozhansky direction, Russian troops launched 17 attacks targeting settlements including Prylipka, Lyman, and Vovchansk. Ongoing assaults are reported in this area. Meanwhile, in the Lyman direction, Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled 15 attempts by Russian forces to advance towards locations such as Hrekivka and Novomykhailivka, with eight attacks still in progress.
The Kostiantynivka direction saw 16 assaults close to settlements like Kostiantynivka and Pleshchiyivka, with two battles continuing. Similarly, in the Pokrovsk direction, Russian forces made 16 attempts to displace Ukrainian troops from their positions, particularly near towns like Novyi Donbas and Pokrovsk, where three enemy attacks are ongoing.
Fighting has also been reported in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, as well as in Kupiansk, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Oleksandrivka, Huliaipole, and Orikhiv areas. Ukrainian defense units continue to maintain control over certain sections of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, according to an interview with Ruslan Habinet, commander of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade.
Habinet emphasized that the presence of Ukrainian forces in parts of Pokrovsk and surrounding towns is crucial in preventing the Russian military from advancing towards the highway leading to Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. This positioning also serves as an essential foothold for future operations by Ukrainian forces.
On March 16, Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed that Russian troops had achieved significant successes in the Kostiantynivka and Lyman directions, asserting that they control substantial portions of both towns. However, Ukrainian military sources contradicted this, stating that there are no Russian troops present in Lyman.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) commented on Gerasimov’s statements, suggesting that he continues to exaggerate Russia’s battlefield gains to create a misleading narrative of imminent collapse along the front lines across Ukraine. The ISW noted that they have not observed any evidence of Russian military activity in Lyman since February 23, 2026, and regarding Kostiantynivka, they assessed that Russian forces have only been active in approximately 7.85% of the city.
Ukrainian military reports indicate a surge in Russian attacks along multiple fronts, particularly in the Sumy and Donetsk regions. Despite claims of territorial gains by Russian officials, Ukrainian forces maintain control over key areas, challenging the narrative of imminent Russian success.