Fierce battles continue for Myrne, Bilohiria, Luhivske on Huliaipole front – Ukrainian military

Vladyslav Voloshyn, spokesperson for the Southern Defense Forces, told Ukrinform that Ukrainian forces are conducting active maneuver defense, destroying enemy assault and infiltration groups.

"Fierce battles are currently ongoing for these settlements," he said.

According to the spokesperson, across the Huliaipole sector – from Nove Zaporizhzhia to the northern outskirts of Huliaipole – the enemy has made no advances. As a result, Russian forces shifted their activity to the south and west of the city and intensified attacks toward the settlement of Zaliznychne.

"About 15 combat engagements take place there daily. In Myrne, the enemy also began actively conducting assault operations about two to two-and-a-half weeks ago. They are trying to advance in this settlement but have had no success. Every day we record five to seven combat clashes there," Voloshyn said.

He also noted that enemy activity near Bilohiria has been lower, with approximately one to two combat clashes per day, or five to seven per week.

"Claims that they have occupied these two settlements are false, because the fighting is taking place near them. The enemy has not yet entered them and is only trying to do so. Their assault groups are attempting to break in," the spokesperson stressed.

Voloshyn explained that a settlement can only be considered captured when the enemy deploys consolidation units there. Russian troops have been unable to do this.

"In other words, they cannot move their consolidation units there. There is information that infiltration groups entered Luhivske and Bilohiria – there were battles with them and we destroyed them – but we are not allowing their consolidation groups to enter," he said.

He added that the situation around Luhivske is somewhat more difficult.

"The enemy constantly attempts assault actions there and regularly carries out airstrikes on these settlements, including with guided aerial bombs," Voloshyn said.

He also noted that near Charivne, Russian forces frequently use army aviation, launching strikes with unguided aerial rockets. Settlements in this area are effectively located on the line of combat contact.

"The situation there is quite difficult and dynamic, given that we are conducting active maneuver defense rather than positional defense. Sometimes we allow the enemy to enter certain areas in order to destroy them later. Therefore, Russian media claims that they have taken control of these settlements are simply information manipulation," he concluded.

As reported, 167 combat engagements between Ukrainian forces and Russian invaders were recorded on the front lines on March 15. The enemy showed the greatest activity on the Pokrovsk axis, where 36 assault actions took place.

Photo provided by Voloshyn