Author: David Batashvili, Research Fellow at the Rondeli Foundation

This is a special issue of the Rondeli Russian Military Digest dedicated to the Russo-Ukrainian War, composed on the basis of numerous open sources.

 

During the reported period, Ukrainians conducted a number of successful attacks in various parts of the country while Russians concentrated on their efforts to surround Ukrainian forces in Donbas region.

 

Kyiv-Chernihiv Area

Heavy fighting continued in areas northwest and west of Kyiv, including in the Irpin-Bucha-Gostomel area, near Ukrainian-controlled Makariv, and on the Kyiv-Zhytomyr highway. No major changes occurred.

30 kilometers west of Chernihiv, Russians attacked and took the surrounded town of SlavutychChernihiv itself is either nearly or completely surrounded, although Russians refrain from attempts to enter the city.

 

Kharkiv-Sumy Area

Ukrainians conducted a successful attack to the immediate east of Kharkiv, taking the villages of Malaya Rohan and Vilkhivka.

Ukrainians achieved success south of Sumy as well, taking the town of Trostyanets after several days of heavy fighting, and quickly following up by taking the town of Boromlya. Reports also emerged of Ukrainians liberating other areas southeast of Sumy. 

Static shot from the Russo-Ukrainian War interactive map, the Kharkiv area as of noon 28 March. All information on the maps is approximate.

 

Donbas Area

Street fighting continued in Rubizhne with Russians unable to make progress and Ukrainians counterattacking. Popasna also continued to be a scene of street battles without major changes. Russians apparently were able to take the town of Verkhnetoretske after days of fighting. They followed up with an attack towards Novobakhmutivka but without success. Russians were not able to make progress in the areas of Avdiivka and Mar’inka.

Heavy fighting continued in the area south and southwest of Izyum where previously Russians had made a limited breakthrough. Within Izyum itself, street battles continued with Russians making some progress within the city. Russians continue to make a major effort in the Izyum area, with the aim of surrounding Ukrainian forces in Donbas.

 

Siege of Mariupol

Fierce street battles continued within Mariupol. Russians made new progress within the city during the reported period, although its extent was not clear at the time of writing.

 

Dnipro-Zaporizhzhia Area

Ukrainians attacked Russian forces that had previously advanced to the south of Kryvyi Rih, liberating the village of Novovorontsovka.

Russians conducted attacks near the town of Hulyaipole and to the south of Zaporizhzhia but were not able to advance.

Kryvyi Rih and Zaporizhzhia areas

 

Black Sea Area

Ukrainians continued to attack Russian forces in the area between Mykolaiv and Kherson, making limited progress.