Ukraine counters Russian push toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

Russian forces carried out 10 combat engagements in this sector in the past day.

"The situation there is quite difficult, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces are destroying the enemy and trying to prevent them from advancing towards Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and the settlement of Pokrovske," said Voloshyn.

On Feb. 18, the DeepState monitoring project noted that the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled Russian troops near Vyshneve, Verbove, and Ternove in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

Ukrainian military earlier reported successful counterattacks near the administrative border of the Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, while Voloshyn dismissed Russian milbloggers’ claims of a Ukrainian “counteroffensive.”

On Feb. 8, Ukrainian forces officially liberated the settlement of Ternuvate and cleared the village of Prydorozhnie in Zaporizhzhya Oblast. On Feb. 11, they reported clearing Kosivtseve in Zaporizhzhya Oblast.

The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War wrote on Feb. 15 that Ukrainian counterattacks had liberated several settlements in the Zaporizhzhya and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts, slowing Russian advances and complicating their preparations for a potential summer offensive.