On February 21, Ukrainian military officials reported a significant increase in combat activity along the front lines, with 121 clashes recorded since the start of the day. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine detailed a series of assaults and artillery strikes by Russian forces across various regions.
In the North-Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Russian troops conducted 55 artillery strikes targeting Ukrainian positions and civilian areas, including two instances involving multiple rocket launchers. Additionally, two airstrikes were reported, with four guided aerial bombs dropped.
In the South-Slobozhansky direction, there was a single assault on Ukrainian positions near the settlement of Dvorichanske. Ongoing fighting was confirmed in the region.
The General Staff noted that in the Lyman direction, Ukrainian forces successfully repelled six attacks in the areas of Hrekivka, Stavky, Drobysheve, and Maslyakivka, with one assault still in progress.
In the Kostyantynivka direction, Russian troops launched 13 assaults against Ukrainian defenders near Kostyantynivka, Ivanopillia, Shcherbynivka, Berestk, Rusynyi Yar, Sofiivka, and Novopavlivka.
Furthermore, in the Pokrovsk direction, Russian military forces executed 27 attacks, attempting to advance in the areas of Shakhove, Rodynske, Pokrovsk, Udačne, Molodetske, and Muravka. Four attempts to improve their positions are currently ongoing.
On February 19, the DeepState project reported that Russian forces had made advances near Nykyforivka to the east of Sloviansk, near Nelipivka southeast of Kostyantynivka, as well as near Zatyshok and Novo Shakhove on the Dobropillia salient. Analysts have identified the Sloviansk, Kostyantynivka, and Dobropillia directions as among the most active on the front line, with numerous assaults occurring daily.
According to Radio Liberty’s Donbas Realities project, Russian forces may be preparing for a significant offensive in the spring or summer, likely targeting the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration and/or the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia area. Kostyantyn Mashovets, an analyst from the Information Resistance group, suggested that this could represent a final major push by Russia, given its dwindling resources and increasing economic difficulties domestically.
As winter draws to a close, Ukrainian Defense Forces have reportedly adjusted Russian plans by initiating counteroffensive operations at the intersection of Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, successfully pushing back aggressors from Pokrovsk and further from Orikhiv. Reports from Z-publics indicate that Ukrainian advances in these areas are ongoing.
Ukrainian military reports indicate a marked increase in combat activity, with Russian forces launching multiple assaults across various front lines. As the conflict continues, analysts suggest potential future offensives by Russia amid ongoing Ukrainian counteractions.