February 12-19 live war map: new encirclement in Kurakhove sector

What are Russian troops targeting after capturing Velyka Novosilka?

On one hand, there is no visible or specific target for the Russian offensive after they moved beyond Velyka Novosilka. On the other hand, they are advancing along a fairly wide 8 km front, and in just two weeks, Russian forcesnot only managed to cross the Velyka Novosilka – Huliaipole road but also broke through 3 km north towards the village of Burlatske. To the north, along the road from Velyka Novosilka, they completely occupied Novyi Komar and advanced another 1.5 km, starting the assault on Novoocheretuvate. Currently, taking advantage of their numerical superiority, Russian forces are seizing territories where there were no Ukrainian fortifications, but they will soon reach them, and then it will be clear how determined they are to push forward.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Post-Kurakhove sector closure

Over the past five days, Russian troops, having previously concentrated their forces, launched a large-scale offensive along the perimeter of the pocket formed in the former Kurakhove sector. In a single day, the Russian army deployed over 40 armored vehicles. From the south, Russian forces recaptured Zelenivka and advanced to the outskirts of Kostiantynopil. While some units managed to enter the village repeatedly over several days, they were eliminated by the Ukrainian Defense Forces. However, attempts to secure a foothold on the outskirts persist. On the right flank, Russian troops also attempted but failed to break through toward Bohatyr — a village likely to become the next target if they fully occupy the fortified area of Andriivka–Kostiantynopil–Ulakly.

The situation in Ulakly has reached a critical point. Russian forces have not only secured positions in the southern and central parts of the village but have also severed the road that could have served as a retreat route for Ukrainian troops defending positions near Dachne. As a result, Ukrainian forces now find themselves not only under intense fire but effectively encircled, requiring a breakout through combat. This marks the second encirclement of Ukrainian units in this sector in recent months. Previously, Ukrainian troops executed a heroic withdrawal from Uspenivka. Now, they face a grueling 10-kilometer battle to break through toward Ulakly and, most likely, Kostiantynopil, where they can regroup.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Meanwhile, heavy battles are ongoing on the northern flank for Andriivka. Russian troops have infiltrated most of the main streets of the village and are constantly expanding their control. They managed to capture the "pocket" between Shevchenko and Dachne, and they are close to doing the same between Shevchenko and Andriivka. Additionally, they have advanced beyond Andriivka, both to the north and west, towards Oleksiivka, which Ukrainian forces would have retreated to after the complete occupation of Andriivka. Oleksiivka borders Bohatyr and will be the next target for Russia. Bohatyr and Oleksiivka are the last villages Russian troops need to capture in order to "close the issue" with the Kurakhove sector, straighten the front line from Velyka Novosilka to the border of the Dnipropetrovsk region, and redirect significant resources to other front sections: Pokrovsk, Toretsk, Chasiv Yar, or to Kharkiv or Kursk regions.

At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are conducting stabilization operations both in Ulakly and Andriivka to prevent the complete encirclement of Ukrainian troops and leave them the opportunity to break out of the fire trap.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Novopavlivka sector

Despite all attempts by Russian troops to attack along the entire 20-kilometer stretch of the front from Udachne to Slovianka, they made almost no progress here. To the north, the Ukrainian Armed Forces held their defense in Udachne and Uspenivka, and in the center, they prevented any breakthrough through Nadiivka. However, Russian forces managed to fully occupy Sribne and take control of the area between the villages of Zaporizhzhia and Preobrazhenka. Russian troops are also trying to bypass Preobrazhenka from the north to encircle the Ukrainian Defense Forces and strike the flank of the Ukrainian defenders in Zaporizhzhia. However, this plan has been in progress for almost a month, and we can now confirm a slowdown in the Russian advance towards the Dnipropetrovsk region.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Pokrovsk front stabilized

While Russian forces concentrated all their efforts on the Kurakhove sector, they lacked the resources to advance on Pokrovsk. As a result, for the first time in a long while, no territory was captured in the Pokrovsk sector over the past week. During this period, Russian troops focused on expanding their control along the Pokrovsk–Kostiantynivka road, which they had previously severed. However, their progress was limited to increasing the area of active fighting, not toward Pokrovsk but rather toward Kostiantynivka. 

On the right flank, occupying Russian forces failed to recapture Pishchane and were unable to extend their control in the Kotlyne area or advance further north to cut off logistics to Pokrovsk.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Kostiantynivka offensive prospects

Given that Russian troops have reached the road leading to Kostiantynivka from the southwest, nearly captured Toretsk, and made progress in Chasiv Yar, it is likely that this has been enough for the Russian command to start planning an offensive on Kostiantynivka. This is supported by the fact that the 8th Combined Arms Army of the Russian Armed Forces has been moved from the Kurakhove sector, not towards Pokrovsk, but to the Toretsk sector. Specifically, between Toretsk and Pokrovsk, in the areas of Keramik and Oleksandropil, where the front had been stagnant for half a year. From here, another direct road leads to Kostiantynivka.

Ukraine Russia war live map, February 12-19, Photo: Espreso

Kupiansk under growing threat of Russian advance

Despite stability along most of the front between Kharkiv and Luhansk regions, Russian troops seem to have found a weak point in Ukrainian defense and have been pressing on it for over a month. This concerns the right bank of the Oskil River near Dvorichna. Here, Russian troops have been gradually expanding their control by uniting previously separated footholds. Over the past week, they captured territory between the villages of Novomlynsk and Fyholivka, where battles are currently ongoing. However, Russian troops have not been able to advance in Dvorichna, which they control by 80%. The more significant threat lies in the attacks along both banks of the Oskil River to the south. On the left bank, they are only 2 km from Kupiansk, and from the right bank, they have advanced to within 5 km and continue their offensive. It is likely that with better weather conditions, Russian forces will resume their active advance on Kupiansk, which is already preparing for a circular defense.

The maps were created using data from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and other verified open sources. They are approximate and only represent general trends in the combat zone.