Ukrainian military officials reported a significant uptick in combat activity, with 132 clashes occurring since the start of the day. The majority of Russian assaults were concentrated in the Huliaipole direction, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in their evening briefing on February 28.
In the Huliaipole area, Russian forces launched 37 attacks targeting the towns of Huliaipole, Myrne, and advancing towards Dobropillia, Pryluky, Zaliznychnyi, Sviatopetrivka, and Varvarivka. Airstrikes were reported in the settlements of Charivne, Zirytsia, Novoukrainka, and Dolynka, with four clashes still ongoing in these regions.
Additionally, the Pokrovsk direction witnessed 22 attacks as Russian troops attempted to advance in the vicinity of Toretske, Nova Shakhovka, Rodynske, Myrnohrad, Pokrovsk, Udachne, Kotlyne, and Molodetske, as well as towards Novooleksandrivka, Hryshyne, and Novopidhorodne.
Combat operations also persisted in the Southern Slobozhanskyi, Kupiansk, Lyman, Sloviansk, Kostiantynivka, and Oleksandrivka directions.
Recent analyses suggest that the Russian army may be preparing for a significant offensive this spring and summer, potentially targeting the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk agglomeration or the Orikhiv-Zaporizhzhia area. Konstantin Moshovets, an analyst from the Information Resistance group, noted that this might represent a final push for Russia on the front lines, as the military faces dwindling resources and increasing economic challenges at home.
As winter draws to a close, Ukrainian forces have managed to adjust Russian plans by initiating counteroffensive actions at the intersection of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions, successfully pushing back aggressors from Pokrovsk and further east from Orikhiv. Reports from pro-Russian channels indicate that the Ukrainian counteroffensive is ongoing in these areas.
On February 23, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that since the end of January, airborne troops and allied units have regained control over 400 square kilometers of territory and eight settlements in the Oleksandrivka direction.
Ukrainian forces reported 132 clashes with Russian troops on February 28, primarily in the Huliaipole area. As spring approaches, analysts warn of a potential large-scale Russian offensive, while Ukrainian forces continue to make territorial gains.