Enemy attempting to encircle Bakhmut

This is said in an operational update as of 18:00 on March 3, published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, Ukrinform reports.

"Aircraft of the Defense Forces launched five strikes on the occupiers’ personnel and military equipment buildup areas. In addition, our defenders shot down an enemy Su-34 aircraft and an unmanned aerial vehicle of the ZALA type. Throughout the day, units of the rocket troops and artillery hit a command post, three enemy buildup areas, an ammunition depot, two fuel depots, as well as an electronic warfare station of the enemy," the report says.

During the current day, Russian forces launched 30 air strikes and 6 missile attacks, as well as 20 MLRS attacks, in particular on civilian infrastructure. The threat of Russian missile strikes across Ukraine remains high.

The enemy is focusing their main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Kupiansk, Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions.

In the Volyn, Polissia, Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna directions, the operational situation has not changed significantly. The aggressor continues to keep certain units in the areas bordering Ukraine. Over the past day, the enemy launched mortar and artillery attacks on Medvedivka settlements in Chernihiv region; Sobky, Bachivsk, Ulanove, Starykove, Atynske, Pavlivka, Riasne in Sumy region, as well as about 10 settlements in Kharkiv region, including Strelecha, Starytsia, Vovchansk, Budarky, Ambarne.

In the Kupiansk and Lyman directions, the enemy conducted unsuccessful offensive operations in the areas of Bilohorivka in Luhansk region and Spirne in Donetsk region. Russian forces carried out artillery shelling of populated areas near the contact line, including Dvorichna, Kupiansk, Krokhmalne in Kharkiv region; Makiivka, Kreminna, Dibrova and Bilohorivka in Luhansk region; Siversk and Rozdolivka in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, Russian forces continue their attempts to encircle Bakhmut city. During the day, Ukrainian defenders repelled numerous attacks in the areas of Vasiukivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka and Bakhmut in Donetsk region. Areas of settlements near the area of hostilities came under enemy shelling. Among them are Fedorivka, Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Dubovo-Vasylivka, Bakhmut, Ivanivske, Stupochky, Klishchiivka, Kurdiumivka, Ozarianivka, Dyliivka, Mayorsk, and Pivnichne.

In the Avdiivka and Shakhtarsk directions, Russian troops unsuccessfully attacked the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kamianka, Avdiivka, Maryinka, and Pobieda. Almost 20 settlements came under enemy shelling. Among them are Vesele, Berdychi, Avdiivka, Pobieda, Novomykhailivka, Vodiane, Vuhledar and Velyka Novosilka in Donetsk region.

In the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson directions, the enemy is holding defense, trying to improve the tactical position to resume the offensive. Russian forces fired artillery at 15 settlements, including  Vremivka, Novosilka, Zelene Pole in Donetsk region; Huliaipole, Zaliznychne and Kamianske in Zaporizhzhia region; Beryslav, Kozatske, Bilozerka and Dniprovske in Kherson region and the city of Kherson, as well as the city of Ochakiv in Mykolaiv region. Civilian casualties were reported.