Ukraine regained control of almost 50 km² of its territory from Russia in March, the head of the Ukrainian army, Oleksandr Sîrskîi, said on Wednesday, thus consolidating its advance since the beginning of the year, reports Reuters.
The Ukrainian Supreme Commander added that with the change in weather conditions, Moscow's forces intensified their offensive operations along almost the entire front line, which stretches for 1,200 km.
Sîrskîi said the area around the eastern city of Pokrovsk, which Russia is trying to fully capture by mid-2024, was among the places with the most intense fighting in March.
He also mentioned Oleksandrivka, Kostiantynivka and Lîman directions in the southeast and east as the “hottest” spots during the past month.
Ukrainian counterattacks in the southeast helped thwart Russian efforts around Pokrovsk and Russia's spring offensive in general, military analysts said.
Sirskîi said last week that Ukraine had regained control of 480 km² of territory since late January, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier this month described the situation on the front line as the most favorable for Ukraine since the middle of last year.
To reduce Russia's offensive capabilities, Ukrainian forces have maintained a high rate of strikes on Russian military, defense industry and other facilities, Sîrskîi said.
In March, Ukraine hit 76 such targets, including 15 facilities in the oil refining industry, he said.
Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian ports, refineries and fertilizer plants in a bid to cut Moscow's income from raw material exports amid rising global prices fueled by Iran.
