Russia pulling up reserves to Ukraine borders - General Staff
As of today, the enemy temporarily maintains control over the land corridor connecting the occupied areas of Donbas and Crimea, blocking Ukraine’s access to the Sea of Azov.
This was reported by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.
"The 26th day of the Ukrainian people’s heroic resistance to Russian military invasion is coming to an end. Amid the ongoing hostilities, the enemy is temporarily maintaining control over the land corridor with the occupied Crimea and blocking (Ukraine’s - ed.) access to the Sea of Azov," the statement said.
Having lost their offensive potential, the Russian occupation forces continue to form and pull reserves from Russia’s remote regions to the borders of Ukraine.
Due to massive casualties (including commanders) in the Russian armed forces, the scheduled discharge of officers, ensigns, and sergeants has been suspended across Russia.
"Russia’s military-political leadership are undertaking aggressive propaganda efforts aimed at Belarusian military servicemen, conveying the idea of the need for military invasion of Ukraine," the General Staff said.
In Polissia area, the enemy tried to intensify offensive operations in several directions, suffered losses, and failed. They continue to conduct air reconnaissance, seeking optimal ways to improve their positions on the ground.
In the northern direction, the enemy runs no active offensive operations, restoring their offensive capabilities by bringing additional units into Ukraine, including a battalion tactical group with the 90th Panzer Division.
Units of the aggressor power continue to shell Chernihiv and other settlements, not abandoning attempts to advance in the direction of Brovary, while having no success due to losses. They are now trying to replenish stocks and conduct reconnaissance.
In the Slobozhanshchyna direction, the enemy runs no active offensive operations, partially blocking the city of Sumy, continuing artillery shelling of Kharkiv. Occupation forces are trying to rebuild the railway section connecting the town of Valuyki with Kupiansk in order to improve logistics.
In the Donetsk and Luhansk directions, the enemy pursues the attempts at advancing and gaining a foothold, These attempts remain unsuccessful.
"Ukrainian defenders repulsed 13 enemy attacks and destroyed 14 main battle tanks, eight infantry fighting vehicles, two MTLBs, three artillery systems, and four trucks. Air defense units downed two enemy air targets,” noted in the General Staff.
Defenders of Mariupol have destroyed Russia’s Raptor patrol boat and the Leer-3 e-warfare complex.
In the Pivdennyi Buh direction, the occupiers have embarked on defensive action, taking measures to restore combat capability, and trying to restore damaged armored hardware.
In the Mykolaiv direction, owing to a counteroffensive by the Ukrainian Army divisions, the enemy is compelled to retreat to an unfavorable position.
"This day, thanks to the heroic efforts of our defenders, the national flag of Ukraine once again flies over the town of Makariv, from where the enemy was pushed out," the General Staff said.
Enemy aircraft continue to destroy with missiles and bombs the infrastructure in Kyiv, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. At the same time, Russian invaders keep actively exploiting the airfield network of Belarus.
"It is expected that the enemy will continue insidious missile and bomb attacks and artillery strikes on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, using jet artillery, aircraft, high-precision weapons, and indiscriminate munitions," the General Staff concluded.
As Ukrinform reported, on March 21, Ukraine's Air Defense units destroyed an enemy warplane, two helicopters, and six unmanned aerial vehicles.