Day 15 of war: Ukrainian army holds offensive, Russian army's number of deserters rises

ELENA ROSHCHYNA - THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2022, 07:10

Ukraine's armed forces continue to hold back the Russian army's offensive in a number of directions, defending Kiev, Kharkiv, Chernihiv, covering the border with Belarus and holding back enemy movement towards Kryvyi Rih and Mykolaiv, while Mariupol is defended on all sides.

Source: Operational information from the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as of 06:00 on Thursday 10 March

Quote: "The fifteenth day of the heroic resistance of the Ukrainian people against the Russian military invasion has begun.
The Ukrainian Defence Forces continue to hold off the Russian Armed Forces' offensive in the Donetsk, Slobozhansky and part of the Tavriisky operational areas. They are defending the Ukrainian cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka.
Main efforts are focused on preventing the enemy from advancing in a south-easterly direction. A circular defence of the city of Mariupol is under way.
At the same time, the state border with the Republic of Belarus continues to be covered.

Details: In Sivershchyna, Ukrainian forces are maintaining the defence of the city of Chernihiv. Measures are being taken to contain the enemy's advance towards Kyiv.
The capital’s assembled forces and means of defence are in constant readiness to repel the invader's offensive, inflicting fire on the occupier’s offensive groups and holding certain defensive lines.
Towards the south, the invading forces are being deterred on the Kryvyi Rih, Mykolaiv, Voznesensk and Novovorontsovka (Kherson region) fronts.
On other fronts, troops are conducting stabilisation operations and territorial defence tasks.
Units of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are rebuffing missile and bomb strikes and destroying the invader's air assets. They are also providing air cover for important Ukrainian facilities and groups of troops.

Quote: "Over the past two days, fighter aircraft and air defence units have destroyed four of the invader’s Su-25 attack aircraft and two of their helicopters.
The invader has reduced the pace of its offensive, its personnel are demoralised. The number of desertions and looting has increased significantly."