Reporting from Ukraine

After conducting mechanized assaults, Russians occupied part of a small forest in front of this town in Donetsk Oblast.

The estimated number of troops needed for an encirclement of Ukraine's second-largest city exceeds Russia's entire occupation contingent

In the Kurakhove direction, Russian forces have increased the intensity of their attacks toward the Ukrainian town of Kurakhove and have started a large-scale battle in an attempt to reach it. Ukrainian defenders have successfully repelled three Russian assault waves there.

Ukrainian forces conducted a successful counterattack near Synkivka in the Kupiansk direction, northeastern Ukraine, recapturing positions and establishing a buffer zone against weakened Russian troops.

After heavy aerial bombardment, Russian infantry secured a 1 km bridgehead south of Chasiv Yar, establishing positions 500 meters from the town's eastern edge.

Despite heavy Russian bombardments, Ukrainian 45th Artillery Brigade and drone operators from multiple brigades destroy numerous Russian artillery pieces, tanks, APCs through precision strikes.

Fears are growing in Ukraine over the potential for a major new Russian offensive aimed at the key northern city of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, as intelligence detects worrying patterns of military build-up in the region.

The village of Ivanivske, standing between Russians and Chasiv Yar town, has been leveled to the ground, while the Ukrainians' goal is to slow the Russian advance before the new defense line along the canal is ready.

Ukrainian forces face tough choices after massive Russian strikes: If Ukraine protects infrastructure, Russia will intensify bombardments on the front. If it secures the front, Russia will degrade Ukraine's defense industrial capacity.

Despite Russian attempts to reinforce their units and launch a new offensive, Ukrainian defenders have maintained control over key settlements, thwarting Russia's ultimate goal of seizing Lyman, known as The Gates of Donbas.

Renewing failed Kupiansk offensive, Russian troops attacked Synkivka village but underestimated Ukrainian forest defenses, suffering setbacks with only marginal territorial gains.

Despite initial gains in their new offensive south of Ivanivske, Russian forces were pushed back to their starting point after failing to breach Ukrainian defenses, suffering heavy losses in manpower and equipment.

Russia's advance on Avdiivka stalls against Ukrainian defenses, losing momentum as Ukraine destroys an understrength Russian assault unit, including newly-mobilized troops, forcing the commitment of ill-prepared reserves and deployment of "suicide units," resulting in heavy Russian losses.

On 12 March, Ukraine launched massive drone strikes across Russia, striking oil refineries, fuel depots, airfields, and security sites up to 900 km inside Russia to degrade its war capabilities.