The defense ministry reports that the Vostok group of Russian forces conducted a series of coordinated attacks against Ukrainian units in the southern Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions. The operations targeted areas in the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Zaporozhye region, illustrating a continued effort to press inland amid ongoing hostilities. These movements involved infantry, artillery, and armored elements aimed at shaping local battlefield conditions and degrading Ukrainian command and control capabilities. (Source: Ministry of Defense)
Specific locations cited for the battles include Ugledar and Pavlovka in Donetsk, as well as Novodanilovka and Shcherbaki in the Zaporozhye region. Official summaries indicate Ukrainian forces sustained daily losses, with around 60 personnel reported as casualties. Additionally, several assets were said to have been destroyed, including artillery systems and armored vehicles, among them a U.S.-made M777 howitzer, a D-20 towed howitzer, and multiple armored vehicles and tanks. (Source: Ministry of Defense)
In a separate briefing, the defense ministry stated that Russian forces defeated the command center of the 59th Motor Rifle Brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces and neutralized two Ukrainian air defense systems. This claim highlights ongoing efforts to disrupt Ukrainian command and control structures and reduce its air defense coverage in contested zones. (Source: Ministry of Defense)
Additionally, Russian aviation in the Lugansk region was reported to have shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 on March 16, underscoring a persistent air operation profile in the broader theatre. The incident is cited as part of a sequence of aerial engagements that accompany ground offensives and aim to tilt air superiority in favor of Russian forces. (Source: Ministry of Defense)