As of March 20, Ukrainian forces reported 146 combat engagements across various fronts, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The conflict remains fierce, with significant aerial assaults and drone activity reported.
Ukrainian military sources stated that Russian forces launched 58 airstrikes, deploying 163 guided bombs. Additionally, they utilized 5,285 kamikaze drones and conducted 2,856 shelling incidents targeting both populated areas and Ukrainian military positions.
Nearly half of the reported clashes occurred in three key regions: the Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk directions in Donetsk, and the Huliaipole area in Zaporizhzhia. In the Kostiantynivka sector, Russian troops attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 18 times near Kostiantynivka, Pleshchiivka, Illinivka, Rusynyi Yar, and Sofiivka.
Ukrainian forces successfully repelled 28 assaults in the Pokrovsk direction, particularly around the settlements of Rodynske, Bilytske, Myrnohrad, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novomykolaivka, Novopavlivka, and Filia. One engagement remains ongoing.
In the Huliaipole direction, there were 19 attacks by Russian forces in areas including Dobropillia, Zaliznychne, Zelenyi, Staro-Ukrainka, Varvarivka, and Luhivske. Russian airstrikes targeted regions such as Hirkke, Huliaipilske, Novoselivka, Dolynka, Kopani, and Trudove, with two clashes still in progress.
Fighting has also been reported in the Northern Slobozhansky, Kursk, Southern Slobozhansky, Kupiansk, Sloviansk, Oleksandrivka, Orikhiv, and Dnipro directions.
Earlier this week, in an interview with Radio Free Europe, Ruslan Habinet, commander of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade, which operates in the Pokrovsk area, indicated that Ukrainian forces continue to maintain control over certain sections of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad. He emphasized that the presence of Ukrainian troops in parts of Pokrovsk and surrounding areas prevents the Russian army from advancing towards the highway leading to Pavlohrad in Dnipropetrovsk region, thereby establishing a crucial foothold for future operations.
On March 19, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, revealed that Russia plans to recruit an additional 409,000 military personnel by 2026. He noted an uptick in Russian military activity as weather conditions improve.
On March 16, Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov claimed successes for Russian forces in the Kostiantynivka and Lyman directions, asserting that they control significant portions of both areas. However, Ukrainian military officials disputed this, stating that there are no Russian troops in Lyman, Donetsk region.
The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War commented on Gerasimov’s statements, suggesting that he continues to exaggerate Russia’s battlefield achievements to create a misleading impression that the front lines across Ukraine are on the verge of collapse.
Ongoing combat in Ukraine has intensified, with significant clashes reported in multiple regions. Ukrainian forces are actively repelling Russian assaults while maintaining strategic positions, despite claims of Russian advances.