Ukraine liberates 12 settlements on Oleksandrivske axis – Syrskyi

Defense Forces have regained control of eight settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and four in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Offensive operations on the Oleksandrivske axis have been ongoing since late January.

The commander-in-chief said Russian forces are attacking in the areas of Ternove, Oleksandrohrad, Ivanivka, Zelenyi Hai, Andriivka-Klevtsove, Sichneve, and toward Sosnivka, Verbove and Zlahoda. A total of 64 enemy attacks were recorded on this axis over the past week.

At the same time, Syrskyi said Russian troops continue offensive operations, attempting to create a buffer zone in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. In response, Ukraine’s Defense Forces are holding the line and striking the enemy.

The commander-in-chief also said he had ordered increased supplies of ammunition and other logistical resources to units in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukraine’s counteroffensive

On March 17, in an address to the British Parliament, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that over the past 30 days Ukrainian forces had recaptured more territory than Russia had seized.

In an interview with CNN published on March 15, Zelenskyy said Russia had been preparing a major offensive operation, but Ukraine’s Defense Forces prevented it by launching a counteroffensive.

On March 14, Zelenskyy said Russia’s planned spring offensive had already failed, as it was expected to be in full swing by now.

On March 10, Maj. Gen. Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, said the Defense Forces had almost completely liberated Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. According to him, three small settlements still need to be “finalized” and two more “cleared.”

On March 3, Zelenskyy said the Defense Forces had liberated 400-435 square kilometers in southern Ukraine over the past month and a half.

On Feb. 23, Syrskyi said that on the Oleksandrivske axis, Ukrainian defenders had regained control of 400 square kilometers and eight settlements since late January.