Ukrainian forces advance near Pokrovsk, setting stage for strategic gains. Serhiy Zgurets’ column

Frontline situation in Pokrovsk sector

Both Ukrainian and Russian forces are concentrating efforts on this axis. Among the settlements where the Armed Forces carried out counterattacks and repelled the Russians are Uspenivka, Udachne, Kotlyne, and Pishchane. These actions demonstrate effective coordination by command, control, and the cohesive interaction of brigades using all available resources and the potential of their commanders.

South of Pokrovsk, the Defense Forces of Ukraine conducted counterattacks. The area around Shevchenko has also been added to these operations. Currently, the Spartan brigade, together with the 425th Assault Regiment Skala, continue operations aimed at pushing the Russians back from their positions.

Ukrainian troops are actively conducting counteroffensive actions in the Pokrovsk sector. Over the past week, a series of counterattacks have taken place, indicating the potential for significant changes in this section of the front. Although it may be somewhat premature, the facts suggest that the Russian advance has been halted. The Spartan brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine is holding the defense in this area.

Ivan Kryvorotko, a major and chief of staff of the 2nd Battalion of the Spartan brigade, shared an update on the situation over the past few days.

According to the major, Russian forces continue their attempts to advance. The Russians attack from different directions simultaneously, but in most cases, the Armed Forces of Ukraine do not allow them to even approach the positions, destroying them at a distance.

Ukraine Russia war live map, March 8-15, Photo: Espreso

Major Kryvorotko explained that during recent assault operations, the battalion advanced more than a kilometer beyond the line of contact. Ukrainian troops drove the Russians out of several positions, eliminated 11–12 occupiers in close combat, and secured new positions, which they are now holding.

"At the moment, small group tactics remain Russian troops’ primary approach. However, they sometimes use quad bikes or motorcycles to break through the defenses and occupy gaps between our positions, from where they organize their defense or attempt to continue the advance. Over the past week, no armored vehicles have been recorded on our section of the front," Kryvorotko said.

The situation with the Russian personnel is mixed. The most critical tasks, such as assaults on positions or attempts to advance, are carried out by trained Russian soldiers. In contrast, untrained conscripts are used to support combat and hold positions. According to conversations with prisoners, a large part of the personnel was mobilized just two weeks before being sent to the front. Their training is extremely poor, so they either quickly surrender or are unable to carry out orders.

The Russians have realized they cannot advance further in this direction and have used the time to bring up artillery and drone crews.

“We are noticing an increase in their firepower and the number of drones, as well as stronger support during offensive actions,” the major added.

With the arrival of spring and the appearance of greenery, combat operations are taking on new characteristics. Russian troops, hiding in dense vegetation, will be much harder to detect, especially during the day when the plants heat up, complicating the work of thermal imaging drones. This could become a serious issue. At the same time, these conditions provide certain advantages for the Ukrainian forces, as they allow for better rotation of personnel at positions and the conduct of specific offensive actions.

Drone supply from the state is at an adequate level, but the unit also conducts its own fundraisers. This is necessary to create a reserve, as the loss of drones or unforeseen circumstances could affect the stability of reconnaissance or the execution of attacks. The reserve ensures that planned tasks can continue even in the case of unexpected situations.

U.S. arms supply to Ukraine 

The U.S. is ready to resume supplying Ukraine with precision-guided gliding bombs, upgraded to counter Russian electronic warfare systems. Their use could begin in the coming days, as stocks of these bombs are already in Europe. Several news agencies revealed this information. It’s worth noting that these guided munitions have a range of over 160 km.

The bombs were developed by Boeing and Swedish company SAAB for use with HIMARS systems. Last year, such munitions were already supplied to Ukraine, but issues arose with their use due to the impact of Russian electronic warfare. These problems have now been resolved, and we will see how they perform on the battlefield. The exact number of deliveries is still unknown, but the previous contract with Boeing involved the transfer of 750 of these precision-guided bombs to Ukraine.

Military aid from Sweden

Sweden has announced a new military aid package worth $300 million. It includes modern technological solutions, such as 18 Archer self-propelled howitzers (SPHs) and five Arthur counter-battery radars. The Archer SPH is one of the most advanced artillery systems available on the market today.

The main advantages of the Archer are its high level of automation in loading and targeting systems. The crew of this SPH can receive data from various sources and fire multiple shells in quick succession. At the same time, it can change positions before the first shell reaches its target at maximum range (over 40 km), making the Archer nearly invulnerable to enemy artillery. The primary role of these SPHs is counter-battery warfare in collaboration with the Arthur radars, which determine the location of enemy artillery systems.

The only drawback is the long production times for the Archer, which can exceed a year. For example, Ukrainian Bohdana SPHs are produced at a rate of 10–15 units per month. However, part of Sweden’s aid package is also directed towards the production of Ukrainian Bohdana. This makes the package an extremely important and valuable contribution from our partners in supporting Ukraine.