Regrouping, Russian forces still set on the plan to seize Kyiv – the General Staff

IRYNA BALABCHUK — WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2022, 13:57

On the 14th day of the war in Ukraine, Russia significantly reduced the pace of troop advance, but did not refuse from the offensive and plans to seize Kyiv.

Source: Operational information of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 12:00 on March 9

Quote of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: "The enemy is regrouping in preparation for another attempt to seize Kyiv. After an unsuccessful offensive in the direction of Fastiv, the enemy is trying to resume offensive operations in this direction."

Details: Also, the enemy keeps the focus to seize the cities of Sumy, Kharkiv, Mariupol, Mykolayiv to establish a land corridor between the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the mainland of the Russian Federation. The enemy does not stop trying to reach the administrative borders of Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

Also, the enemy forms reserves in the points of permanent deployment for the further transfer to certain areas in our country.

In Kherson, where residents are resisting fiercely, the aggressors are trying to impose an administrative-police regime. For this purpose, units of the Russian Guard were introduced into the Kherson region and have detained more than 400 citizens of Ukraine.

In the Volyn direction, the enemy does not carry out offensive actions, but the probability remains high in terms of sabotage actions at military facilities and civilian infrastructure in Rivne and Lviv regions by reconnaissance groups of the aggressors.

In the Polissya direction, the enemy is acting with the help of separate units of the 29th, 35th, and 36th all-military armies of the Pacific Fleet and the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation. After an unsuccessful offensive, a significant number of units of the aggressors' attack group suffered casualties and were hastily withdrawn to recovery areas. Combat equipment is usually not evacuated by the enemy.

In the northern direction, the enemy, with the help of separate units of 2, 41 general armies and 90 tank divisions of the Central Military District, is trying to resume the offensive.

By forces of the battalion tactical group the enemy crossed the river Trubizh, blocked the highway E95 in the area of ​​village Zalisssia. He suffered losses on the outskirts of Chernihiv and other areas. In order to restore the fighting capacity of the group, the battalion group of 55th separate motorised infantry brigade of 41 all-military armies of the Central Military District from the operational reserve was transferred to the territory of Ukraine.

In the Slobozhansky direction, the separate units of the enemy forces of the 1st Panzer Army (up to 11 battalion tactical groups), the 20th All-Military Army (up to 8 groups), the 6th All-Military Army (up to 3 groups) of the Western Military District, the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet (1 group) tries to keep the line from the village Severodonetsk to the city of Sumy. The main efforts are focused on trying to surround the city of Kharkiv and reach the barrier on the Dnipro River. Preparations for the attack on Sumy are underway. The enemy is concentrating army aircraft to ensure airborne action.

In the Donetsk direction, the aggressors of the 1st, 2nd Army Corps and separate units of the 150th Motorised Rifle Division of the 8th General Army (up to 7 battalion tactical groups) are trying to continue offensive operations in previously selected areas to reach the administrative borders of Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

In the Tavriya direction, the enemy, with the help of separate units from the 49th General Army, the 22nd Army Corps, the 20th Motorised Rifle Division of the 8th General Army and the Airborne Troops (up to 17 battalion tactical groups) holds the border from Kherson to Kakhovka. Attempts to force the Southern Bug River were unsuccessful. The enemy uses Kherson International Airport to base combat aircraft.

In the Pivdennyi-Bug operational area, the Russian aggressors are holding the border from the city of Kherson to Kakhovka. Separate units of the 49th All-Military Army of the Southern Military District were stopped northeast of the city of Mykolayiv along the Ingul River.

The General Staff added that the Russian aggressor was losing manpower and equipment, demoralised personnel surrendered or deserted.