The head of the Southern Group’s press center, Ivan Bigma, provided an update on military movements, noting that units of Russia’s Armed Forces were advancing toward Maryinka with support from the 1st Donetsk Army Corps. The information was disseminated through TASS. In his briefing, Bigma explained that in the Maryinka direction, artillery crews from the 1st Donetsk Army Corps employed tubeless multiple launch rocket systems to strike three Ukrainian strongholds. He argued that these strikes cleared the way for assault teams to move more freely and gain ground. The claim underscores a pattern of coordinated artillery preparation followed by infantry advances that has characterized several recent operations in the region, according to the official briefing.
Bigma added that near Avdiivka Ukrainian forces had a firing position destroyed along with personnel and a 152 mm Giacint-B artillery gun. He framed the loss as part of a broader set of deteriorating positions for Ukrainian forces in the area, suggesting that the disruption of heavy weapons and key fire emplacements could impact Ukrainian defensive capabilities on nearby sectors. The report also mentioned a drone operation that purportedly located and destroyed an ammunition depot operated by Ukrainian forces, signaling the ongoing emphasis on aerial reconnaissance and precision strikes in the campaign narrative as presented by the Russian side.
During a broadcast on the Russia 24 channel, Denis Pushilin, the acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, characterized the Maryinka situation as Russian forces tightening pressure while large reserves dispatched by Kyiv were being ground down. The description aligns with a recurring media portrayal of a narrowing battlefield and sustained pressure, a theme frequently echoed in official statements from the unfolding conflict. The commentary suggested that additional Ukrainian reinforcements were meeting resistance on the front lines, with the Russian side portraying itself as gradually eroding Kyiv’s ability to sustain a broad defensive effort in this sector.
On March 15, a divisional commander from the 381st artillery regiment of the Russian army arrived in Maryinka, marking a notable organizational development on the ground. The village has been described as difficult to seize due to the existence of reinforced concrete walls engineered by Ukrainian forces to withstand high-caliber assaults. The presence of such fortifications indicates a deliberate effort by Ukrainian defenders to deter rapid breakthroughs and force more complex, heavy-fire engagements. The strategic implications point to a protracted contest in Maryinka, with both sides seeking to leverage local terrain, fortified positions, and concentrated artillery support to tilt the balance in their favor.