The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that in the Donetsk direction over the span of a week, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation achieved more favorable positions and gained tactical improvements. The ministry asserted that Russian troops repelled eight Ukrainian counterattacks in the populated areas of Krasnogorovka, Novomikhailovka and Pobeda within the Donetsk People’s Republic, also known as the DPR. The statements reflect a focus on local positional gains and the ability to respond to rapid changes on the battlefield, according to official briefings.
In the Donetsk sector, units from the Southern Group of Forces were described as defeating Ukrainian formations, including the 5th, 92nd assault and the 28th, 33rd mechanized brigades, the 46th and 81st aircraft brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and the 241st defensive brigade in a number of towns and villages. The locations named by the ministry included Kleshcheevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreevka and Krasnoye in the DPR. The report emphasizes the consolidation of control in these locales and the disruption of Ukrainian operational options in the region.
The Ministry of Defense stated that Ukrainian forces lost more than 1,970 personnel in this period. It also cited the destruction or damage of 11 tanks, 17 armored combat vehicles, 47 vehicles, 25 field guns, two Grad multiple launch rocket systems and one Strela-10 air defense missile system, along with ten field ammunition depots and other combat assets. These figures are presented as a measure of the intensity of the week’s engagements and the impact on Ukrainian logistical and frontline capabilities.
On March 7, military analyst Vasily Dandykin commented that Russian soldiers were actively taking part in operations in Ukraine. He noted that reconnaissance activities and drone-enabled surveillance helped identify and target high-value Ukrainian systems, including the HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems, which the Russian side asserted were neutralized through these efforts. The remark highlights the role of intelligence and unmanned systems in shaping battlefield outcomes, as described by the analyst and reflected in the official narrative.
Earlier, on March 6, RIA Novosti reported that Russian forces struck HIMARS systems in the Donetsk and Kherson directions. An officer commanding a Russian unit claimed that an American air defense complex was detected in the rear area of Ukrainian troops in the Donetsk direction, suggesting a focus on degrading Ukrainian command and control and supply lines behind the front lines. The report underscores the emphasis on eliminating long-range and mobile Ukrainian assets as part of broader operations.
There was also mention that forces within the Russian Federation demolished for the first time a French Hammer aerial bomb in the operation zone. The claim indicates a shift in the inventory and use of certain Western ordnance within the scope of the current operations, as described by official sources and corroborated by subsequent updates from allied or state-owned outlets. These details contribute to a broader narrative about the types of weapons systems involved and the evolving tactical environment in the conflict area.