Ukrainian military forces are actively engaged in counterattacks and assault operations in the Alexandrivka direction and around Huliaipole, according to Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi. This update was shared on February 16 following his visit to various brigade and regiment command posts.
Syrskyi emphasized the critical importance of liberating territories, while also prioritizing the safety of soldiers and maintaining the operational capacity of units. He noted the ongoing complexity of the operational situation in the region.
Despite the challenging conditions, Syrskyi reported that the enemy continues to attempt to breach Ukrainian defensive lines, launching persistent attacks with heavy weaponry. However, these efforts have not yielded significant success. Ukrainian defense forces are holding their positions, thwarting enemy plans, and inflicting considerable losses on opposing troops and equipment.
Last week, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) indicated that Ukrainian forces are executing localized counterattacks, exploiting vulnerabilities in enemy positions near the administrative border of Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. This strategy may be aided by disruptions to Russian military communications, including the blocking of Starlink terminals and the messaging platform Telegram.
Ukrainian forces are conducting effective counterattacks in key regions, maintaining defensive positions against ongoing enemy assaults. The operational landscape remains complex, with significant losses inflicted on opposing forces.