During the counteroffensive operation in the Oleksandrivsk direction, the Defence Forces liberated almost the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk Region that had previously been captured by the enemy. This was reported by Major General Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff, in an interview with RBC-Ukraine.
He added that the total de-occupied area in the Oleksandrivsk direction (including parts of the Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, and Dnipropetrovsk Regions) exceeds 400 square kilometres. In a slightly smaller area, the Defence Forces cleared the rear of Russian units that had infiltrated it.
“Almost the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk Region has been liberated. Three small settlements remain to be secured and two more to be cleared. Thanks to these active measures, we have seen positive dynamics in February — more territory has been liberated than lost,” Komarenko said.
The general explained that Russia’s goal in advancing in the Dnipropetrovsk Region was to create a buffer zone around the Donetsk Region, which it seeks to occupy completely.
- The Oleksandrivsk direction is important for Russia’s plans to fully occupy the Donetsk Region. The enemy attempted to advance along the Donetsk–Zaporizhzhya highway and break through to Pokrovsk in order to facilitate the capture of Hulyaypole, analyst Viktor Kevlyuk explained.
- On 16 February, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyy confirmed that the Defence Forces had launched a counteroffensive in the Huliaipole area.
- For the first time since the operation in Russia’s Kursk Region, the Ukrainian Defence Forces have taken control of more territory than the enemy has been able to occupy during the same period.
- On 9 March, the commander reported that during February the Airborne Assault Forces liberated more than 285 square kilometres.