Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of March 17

Frontline update of today (photo: Getty Images)

In Ukraine, 63 combat engagements were recorded on the frontlines over the past day. The largest number of enemy attacks is recorded in the Novopavlivka and Avdiivka directions, and Russians are also conducting sabotage and reconnaissance activities, reports the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russian shelling

In total, Russian troops launched 7 missile and 55 air strikes, fired 62 MLRS at the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces and populated areas.

It is noted that as a result of Russian attacks, there are dead and wounded among the civilian population. In addition, multi-story and private houses were destroyed and damaged.

Situation on the frontlines

The operational situation in the Volyn and Polissia directions has not changed significantly. No signs of the formation of enemy offensive groups were detected.

On theSiversk and Slobozhanske directions, the enemy maintains a military presence in the border areas, conducts sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shells settlements from the territory of the Russian Federation, and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine.

It has also been reported that the enemy has conducted air strikes near the settlements of Lukashivka in Chernihiv region and Velyka Pysarivka, Popivka, Oleksandrivka, and Luhivka in Sumy region. More than 20 settlements were subjected to artillery and mortar attacks, including Kliusy and Hirsk in Chernihiv region; Pustohorod, Iskryskivshchyna, Popivka in Sumy region; Kozacha Lopan, Starytsia, Gatyshche in Kharkiv region.

In the Kupiansk direction, the enemy made 2 unsuccessful assaults on the positions of the Defense Forces near the town of Synkivka, Kharkiv region. The enemy also conducted an air strike near the village of Basove, Kharkiv region. More than 10 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Synkivka, Ivanivka, and Berestove in the Kharkiv region.

In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled one enemy attack near Rozdolivka, Donetsk region, where the enemy tried to break through the defense of our troops.

More than 20 localities suffered from artillery and mortar attacks, including Bilohorivka in Luhansk region, Terny, Yampolivka, Torske, Serebryanka, Spirne in Donetsk region.

In the Bakhmut direction, Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 7 enemy attacks near Ivanivske and Klishchiivka in Donetsk region. About 10 localities came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, and New York in the Donetsk region.

In the Avdiivka direction, the Defense Forces repelled 11 enemy attacks in the vicinity of Berdychi, Tonenke, Pervomayske, Orlivka, Oleksandropil and Nevelske in the Donetsk region. The enemy launched air strikes near Netaylove and Novoselivka Persha. About 20 localities came under artillery and mortar fire, including Novobakhmutivka, Netaylove, Pervomayske in Donetsk region.

In the Novopavlivka sector, the Defense Forces continue to hold back the enemy in the areas of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka and Pobeda, where the enemy, supported by aviation, tried to break through the Ukrainian defense 25 times.

The enemy also launched an air strike in the area of Shakhtarske. About 20 localities came under artillery and mortar fire, including Krasnohorivka, Kostiantynivka, Vuhledar, and Prechystivka in the Donetsk region.

In the Orikhiv direction, the Russian invaders attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders 5 times in the areas of Robotyne and northwest of Verbove in Zaporizhzhia region.

In addition, the enemy launched air strikes near the settlement of Staromayorske in Donetsk region. About 15 settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Poltavka, Charivne, Hulyaypole, Mala Tokmachka in Zaporizhzhia region.

Situation on the left bank of the Dnipro River

In the Kherson direction, Russian troops carried out three attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces on the left bank of the Dnipro River during the day.

The General Staff added that more than 10 settlements came under enemy artillery and mortar fire, including Ochakiv in Mykolaiv region; Kozatske, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, and Sadove in Kherson region.

Enemy losses

During the day, the aviation of the Defense Forces struck 6 areas where enemy personnel, weapons and military equipment were concentrated.

Missile units struck 2 areas of concentration of interventionist personnel.

Earlier it was reported that over the last day alone, the Defense Forces eliminated 1160 Russian interventionists and destroyed dozens of enemy vehicles.

Earlier, British intelligence said that Russia's average daily losses in February were the highest since the beginning of the full-scale war against Ukraine.

Read more about how the Ukrainian Armed Forces are closing "pain points" at the front and whether the outcome of the war will be decided in the summer in RBC-Ukraine's article.