On March 18, Ukrainian forces encountered significant combat activity, with a total of 235 clashes reported against Russian troops. The most intense fighting occurred in the Pokrovsk direction, where Russian forces launched 54 attacks.
The General Staff of Ukraine reported that in the Northern Slobozhansky and Kursk directions, Russian forces conducted 118 shelling incidents targeting Ukrainian positions and civilian areas, including 16 attacks using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). Additionally, three airstrikes were carried out using guided bombs, and six combat engagements were recorded throughout the day.
In the Southern Slobozhansky direction, Russian forces attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses 14 times, focusing on the settlements of Vetrynarne, Zelenе, Prylipka, Starytsia, Vovchansk, Vovchanski Khutory, Chuhunivka, Okhrimivka, and Bochkove.
In the Kupiansk direction, Russian troops launched ten attacks aimed at the towns of Kupiansk, Petropavlivka, Kurylivka, and Novoplatonivka.
In the Lyman direction, there were 13 attacks as Russian forces sought to penetrate Ukrainian defenses near Lyman, Drobysheve, Stavky, Dibrova, and in the areas of Novovodyane and Novoheorivka.
Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled seven attempts by Russian forces to advance in the Sloviansk direction, particularly around the areas of Yampil, Platonivka, and towards Riznykivka and Rai-Oleksandrivka.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Russian forces made seven attempts to improve their positions, attacking in the vicinity of Holubivka, Pryvillia, Min’kivka, Nykiforivka, and towards Malynivka.
In the Kostiantynivka direction, Russian troops executed 32 attacks in the regions of Pleshchiyivka, Ivanopillia, Stepaniivka, Rusyn Yar, Sofiivka, and towards Kostiantynivka, Illinivka, and Novopavlivka.
Ukrainian defenders managed to halt 54 assault attempts by Russian forces in the Pokrovsk direction, particularly around the towns of Toretske, Rodynske, Zatyshok, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Udačne, Kotlyne, Molodetske, Novomykolaivka, and towards Kucheriv Yar, Vilne, Novooleksandrivka, Shevchenko, Hryshyne, Muravka, Novopidhorodne, and Novopavlivka.
In the Oleksandrivka direction, there were four attacks reported in the areas of Zelenyi Hai, Stepove, and Rybne.
In the Huliaipole direction, 14 attacks were recorded near Huliaipole, Myrne, and towards Zaliznychne, Dobropillia, and Staroukrainka.
Ukrainian defenders successfully repelled five enemy attacks near Stepove, Shcherbakiv, and towards Novodanylivka in the Orikhiv direction.
In the Dnipro direction, no assault actions were reported from Russian forces.
Furthermore, no signs of Russian offensive group formations were detected in the Volyn and Polissia directions.
The recent escalation in fighting across multiple fronts in Ukraine saw Ukrainian forces engaged in 235 clashes with Russian troops on March 18. The Pokrovsk direction experienced the highest level of aggression, with numerous attacks aimed at breaching Ukrainian defenses.