Russian forces have intensified offensive operations in several sectors of the front in recent weeks, according to the Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState.
In a report published on Telegram, analysts said the increase in attacks is particularly noticeable in the Zaporizhzhia region’s sector, where the intensity of assaults in some areas has exceeded that of one of the war’s traditionally most active sectors around Pokrovsk.
According to the report, Russian forces carried out roughly 1,400 attacks along different parts of the front during the first 10 days of March.
While this figure is considered relatively low compared to some previous periods, it remains close to recent averages, indicating that the overall intensity of fighting remains high.
Between September and February, Russian units conducted an average of about 1,800 assaults per month across the front line.
The fiercest battles continue to take place near Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Analysts say Russian forces are focusing their efforts on nearby settlements after heavy fighting devastated the cities of Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad.
“Both Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are essentially destroyed, so the enemy is focusing on Rodynske and Hryshyne, constantly sending infantry to storm these positions,” analysts wrote.
Russian activity near Hulyaipole (Zaporizhzhia region) has also increased significantly, with the number of assaults in the area now surpassing the intensity of fighting in the Pokrovsk sector in some cases.
An uptick in attacks has also been recorded in the Kostiantynivka sector, where Russian forces are probing Ukrainian defenses and attempting to secure footholds that could support future operations.
In addition, more frequent assaults have been reported near Sloviansk, which analysts link to Russian advances around Siversk and the reinforcement of infantry units in the area.
According to DeepState, Russian commanders are also regrouping forces and replenishing reserves.
Analysts believe the changes may be linked to shifting weather conditions and the emergence of denser vegetation, which can affect battlefield tactics and conceal troop movements.
A senior Ukrainian military planner earlier confirmed Russia has been preparing a major spring offensive, but Kyiv intends to counter it with agile operations and increasingly lethal drone warfare.
Maj. Gen. Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the General Staff’s Main Operational Directorate, told RBC-Ukraine that Ukrainian planners closely monitor Russian troop concentrations, movements, and regrouping in order to anticipate Moscow’s next steps and identify weak points along the front.
“We constantly monitor the enemy’s actions,” Komarenko said. “We track where they have more forces, where less, where they are regrouping. We predict why they are doing it, what their further actions may be.”
He said modern offensive operations remain possible despite near-constant drone surveillance, though they require careful planning and realistic assessments of battlefield conditions.
According to Komarenko, Russia is likely to rely on infiltrating infantry tactics in a spring push focused on the Donbas and Zaporizhzhia sectors, accepting heavy casualties.
However, Ukrainian reinforcements and localized counterattacks have already complicated Russian planning. He declined to provide further operational details.
Independent analysts and Ukrainian media say Ukrainian counterattacks have recently centered around the southern city of Hulyaipole, where veteran infantry units reportedly recaptured more than a dozen villages earlier seized by Russian forces in 2026.
Ukrainian Armed Forces (AFU) commander-in-chief, Gen. Oleksandr Syrsky, confirmed ongoing counterattack operations in the area, saying Kyiv’s strategy of forcing Russia to redeploy troops to sectors chosen by Ukraine is working.
Komarenko said Ukraine is preparing flexible defenses to disrupt Russian offensives expected between March and May.
“If we don’t have the initiative, and instead simply fight back, then sooner or later we will be finished off,” he said.
He added that Ukraine is also preparing asymmetric actions to disrupt Russian plans.
“There will be something unexpected,” Komarenko said.