Ukrainian Armed Forces repel numerous attacks near Bakhmut, strike twice at Russian SAM and ammunition depot – AFU General Staff

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces shared the information in its report on Saturday, March 4.

Over the past day, the aviation of the Ukrainian Defense Forces launched 12 strikes on concentrations of Russian personnel and military equipment, 2 strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems and another strike on a Russian ammunition depot.

Over the day, Russian troops have launched 4 missile, 10 air strikes, and 4 MLRS attacks

Russia is focusing its main efforts on launching offensives in Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions. It continues unsuccessful offensives near Bakhmut, Avdiivka, Mariinka and Vuhledar.

The situation on the northern and northeastern border with Belarus and Russia remains unchanged. Russian troops launched mortar and artillery fire at 11 settlements in the Sumy region and 22 more in the Kharkiv region. 

In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, Russian troops continued offensive actions near Nevske, Serebryanske forestry and Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region, however attacks were unsuccessful. They fired artillery at settlements near the contact line in Kharkiv, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian troops are unsuccessfully trying to encircle the city of Bakhmut. Over the day, Ukrainian soldiers repelled numerous attacks near the settlements neighboring Bakhmut, in Donetsk region. More than 15 villages and towns came under Russian fire.

In Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions, Russian forces unsuccessfully attacked the positions of Ukrainian troops near the settlements of Kamyanka, Vodiane, Pervomayske, Krasnohorivka and others. Russian soldiers launched artillery and mortar attacks near more than 20 settlements.

In Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, Russian troops are on the defensive, trying to improve their tactical situation in order to resume the offensive. They launched artillery fire near more than 30 settlements in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions. There are casualties among the civilian population.

The city of Enerhodar, temporarily occupied by Russia, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are currently sorely lacking professional staff who can ensure the plant’s proper operation 

“The city of Enerhodar, temporarily occupied by Russia, and the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are currently sorely lacking professional staff who can ensure the plant’s proper operation. Occupying Russian forces are employing people without the relevant education and experience of operating a NPP, which can lead to unpredictable consequences,” the report reads.

Moreover, the report notes that in order to replenish large-scale losses in manpower, Russia continues to conduct covert mobilization on the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. In particular, in Horlivka, Donetsk region, another wave of mobilization of local residents to the ranks of the occupying Russian forces is planned to begin on March 5. All heads of educational institutions have been given written instructions by the Russian occupation administration to register men born between 1995 and 2005 for military service.

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also informs that the forced passportization of the population of the temporarily occupied and captured territory of the Luhansk region continues. Thus, Russian occupying forces have imposed restrictions on the free movement between settlements for all civilians who do not have a Russian passport. Starobilsk, Rubizhne and Stanytsia Luhanska settlements are affected by the restrictions.

• As of the morning of March 4, at least 20 towns and villages in the Donetsk region were shelled: a medical facility, houses and industrial facilities were damaged; civilians were injured.

• On March 4, the Russian army attacked the village of Maryivka, Zaporizhzhia region, located on the right bank of the Dnipro River. Houses were damaged as the result of the shelling.