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, Russians failed to make progress towards Kyiv, or in their effort to surround the city from the west. Their new attacks, conducted from the western side against Ukrainian forces in Irpin, Bucha and Gostomel were repelled. Fighting continued in this area, as well as in the area of the town of Makariv, previously retaken by Ukrainians in a counterattack. New Russian push to approach the town of Brovary, east of Kyiv, was also repelled during the same period. As of the morning of 6 March, fighting was reported in several spots northeast of Brovary.
Static shot from the Russo-Ukrainian War interactive map, Kyiv area. All information on the maps is approximate. No progress was made by Russians in areas of Kharkiv and Sumy. Ukrainians reported that they had counterattacked successfully near Kharkiv, but exact location of this counterattack was unclear as of the morning of 6 March. To the southeast of Kharkiv, Russians attempted advance in two directions from the area around the town of Balakliya which they had taken on 2 March – to the southeast against the city of Izuym, and to the southwest in the general direction of the Dnieper River. In both directions, Russians met resistance of Ukrainian forces and had to stop.
Kharkiv and area to the southeast of it In Luhansk Oblast, Russians appear to have taken over most of the area north of Luhansk. It is likely Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from this area to avoid being surrounded. New Ukrainian defensive line now lies in the area of Severodonetsk-Lysychansk and Slovyansk-Kramatorsk. Mariupol was confirmed to be surrounded by Russian forces during the reported period. The siege of this city began with its Ukrainian defenders showing no intention of surrender. Fighting took place in the streets of the town of Volnovakha, and in other areas north of Mariupol. Russians made a small advance in the northern direction in the area east of Tokmak on 4 March. As to Tokmak itself, the town appeared to be either under Ukrainian control or contested by the two sides with no Russian advance taking place there. On 4 March, Russians took Enerhodar which had been previously surrounded by them. Russian forces made several attempts to advance into the city of Mykolaiv from the south and southeast, but were repelled by the Ukrainian defenders. Russians also appeared to have failed to make new advances in the area of Voznesensk northwest of Mykolaiv.
Southwest Ukraine |