DeepState reports frontline shift near Piddubne village in eastern Ukraine

“Enemy forces advanced near Piddubne. The situation near Chasiv Yar has also been уточнено,” the project said in a social media update, referring to adjustments in the assessed frontline positions.

Earlier, on March 9, Ukraine’s Khortytsia operational-strategic group of forces reported that Russian troops were preparing to intensify offensive operations in the areas of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad, increasing the number of airstrikes and deploying additional reserves.

On March 4, Ukraine’s 7th Rapid Reaction Corps of the Air Assault Forces said Russian occupation troops were planning to step up offensive actions in early spring, concentrating efforts on advancing toward Hryshyne, located northwest of Pokrovsk.

The Institute for the Study of War said in an assessment published on Feb. 25 that Russian forces may have captured Pokrovsk in recent weeks. However, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have not confirmed this and have not reported withdrawing from the city.

ISW also noted that Russian troops have so far failed to capitalize on any potential capture of Pokrovsk to achieve significant additional operational gains. This suggests that Russia’s seizure of the remainder of Donetsk Oblast is neither inevitable nor imminent, analysts said.

On Feb. 25, Maj. Hryhorii Shapoval, spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of forces, said eight settlements along the Pokrovsk axis — Sukhetske, Suvorove, Nykanorivka, Dorozhne, Ivanivka, Nove Shakhove, Novyi Donbas, and Vilne — remained under full control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.