April 2022

After Russia abandoned its offensive to capture Kyiv, it shifted its attention to eastern and southern Ukraine. The Russian military began redeploying units from northern Ukraine to the east, but many of these troops appeared to be nearly combat-ineffective due to heavy losses. However, Russia still amassed tens of thousands of troops, declaring its aim to fully capture the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.^[88][89] It managed to secure Izium on 1 April, although heavy fighting continued around the settlement over the next few days.^[90] According to local authorities 80% of Izium's residential buildings were destroyed in the battle.^[91] On 3 April, according to the Ukrainian government, two Russian soldiers died and 28 others were hospitalized after Ukrainian civilians handed out poisoned cakes to soldiers of the Russian 3rd Motor Rifle Division in Izium.^[92][93]

Russia and the pro-Russian separatists continued to besiege Mariupol, where they made little progress. However, Russian troops managed to divide the Ukrainian holdouts in Mariupol into two or three pockets on 10 April.^[94] At the same time, Russia made concentrated efforts to conquer the strategically important cities of Sievierodonetsk, Popasna, and Rubizhne. It launched repeated attacks on these locations from 10 April.^[88][94][89] Russia made little progress in these attacks,^[89] and Ukraine claimed that it had inflicted a heavy defeat on the Russian 60th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade ^{[ru; uk]} on 11 April.^[88] In nearby Kreminna, Ukraine's 128th Brigade claimed to have pushed Russian forces 6-10 kilometers away from the city.^[95]

To support the operations aimed at Sievierodonetsk, Popasna, and Rubizhne, Russia made a push south of Izium toward Barvinkove and Sloviansk. Ukraine responded by shifting more units to hold off the Russians at Izium. At the same time, Russia attacked around Kharkiv to pin down local Ukrainian forces.^[94][88][89] Russia had made only limited gains at Izium by 12 April, but more Russian forces continued to arrive, to reinforce the offensive.^[89]

On 13 April, it was reported that Russia was attempting to assemble a force large enough to outnumber the Ukrainian soldiers in eastern Ukraine by five times, in an attempt to finally win a decisive victory in the Donbas.^[96] On 16 April, Russia warned the remaining defenders of Mariupol to surrender; the Ukrainians ignored the demand.^[97][98] On 18 April, Ukraine launched counter-attacks, and retook several small towns and villages near Kharkiv and Izium.^[99]

Also on 18 April, Zelenskyy announced that the "battle for Donbas" had begun, as Russian forces launched an offensive across a 300-mile front. According to Russian officials, 1,260 military targets were hit by rockets and artillery.^{[100][101][102][103]} The initial Russian bombardment focused on Rubizhne, Popasna, and Marinka.^[99]

On the same day, it was reported that Russian and LNR troops had entered the city of Kreminna, capturing it after a few hours of clashes with the Ukrainian Army.^[104][105] LNR commander Mikhail Kishchik was killed in this battle.^[106] Over the next days, Russia gained little territory despite attacks all across the frontline. Facing heavy Ukrainian resistance, the Russian and separatist forces were able to advance into parts of Rubizhne, Popasna, and Sievierodonetsk. Some reports also suggested that fighting in Kreminna was still ongoing.^{[9][107][108]} On 21 April, the Russians claimed to have killed over 4,000 Ukrainian troops in Mariupol, and to have captured a further 1,478.^[109] By 23 April, Ukrainian counter-attacks had reportedly further stalled the Russian advance.^[110]

In the following days, Russia continued its attempts to break through the Ukrainian defenses, possibly in an aim to encircle the Izium-Donetsk City salient. Fighting was concentrated at Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Popasna, Marinka, Kharkiv, and Izium.^{[111][112][113][114]} Russia, the LPR, and the DPR made limited gains, capturing a number of villages and the towns of Popivka, Pischane, Zhytlivka, and Kreminna.^[112][113] However, their overall advance was slow, and stalled in most areas of the frontline. Ukraine also mounted a growing number of counter-attacks at Izium and Kharkiv, gradually expelling Russian forces from a number of settlements.^{[115][114][116]}

First Ukrainian Kharkiv counteroffensive and the recapture of Mariupol and Sievierodonetsk (May–September 2022)

On 30 April, Ukraine launched a large-scale counter-offensive at Kharkiv, retaking the city's suburbs and several more towns over the following days.^{[116][117][118][119][120]}

By 4 May, Russian forces had been pushed back to such a distance that most of their artillery could no longer strike Kharkiv.^[117] Meanwhile, Russian and DPR/LPR separatist forces continued to attempt to break through Ukrainian defenses at Izium and the Donetsk-Luhansk frontline.^{[120][118][121][119]} On 6 May, the ISW described a Ukrainian counteroffensive "along a broad arc" near Kharkiv, reporting that Ukraine had recaptured "several villages," including Tsyrkuny, Peremoha and part of Cherkaski Tyshky.^[122] The ISW also reported that Ukraine "may successfully push Russian forces out of artillery range in Kharkiv in the coming days."^[122]

On 7 May, Russian forces destroyed several bridges in an attempt to slow down the Ukrainian counter-offensive at Kharkiv. On the same day, Russia and separatist troops also captured Popasna.^[123] Following the capture of Popasna, Russia began attempting to encircle Sievierodonetsk.^[124][125]

On 7 May, it was reported that Ukrainian forces had successfully pushed back Russian forces stationed around Kharkiv, with the city getting further out of range for Russian forces.^[126] The same day, Ukrainian forces also reported retaking five villages northeast of Kharkiv.^[127] Quoting a Ukrainian official, The New York Times said that the battle for Kharkiv was not over, but that at the moment, Ukraine was dominating, and that Russian troops were destroying bridges as they were retreating.^[128] On 11 May, Ukrainian forces claimed to have recaptured four settlements. The counteroffensive had the potential to bring Ukrainian forces within several kilometers of the Russian border.^[129]

On 10 May, Ukraine made further gains on the Kharkiv front, forcing Russia to redeploy forces from the Izium front to the north.^[130]

In addition, Ukrainian artillery destroyed an entire Russian battalion tactical group attempting a river crossing in the battle of the Siverskyi Donets.^[131] Meanwhile, Russia and the DPR attempted to cement their occupation in eastern Ukraine through political and economic means, likely in an attempt to integrate these areas into the existing separatist republics or establish new ones.^[132] On the other side, Ukrainian civilians began organizing resistance movements.^[112] As Ukrainian forces retook territory around Kharkiv, local civilian collaborators fled to Russia.^[117]

On 12 May, Russian forces seized Rubizhne and the nearby town of Voevodivka.^[133][134] Heavy fighting subsequently took place at the village of Dovhenke south of Izium.^[135] On 13 May, it was reported that Russia had decided to withdraw its forces from Kharkiv Oblast.^[136] On 14 May, the ISW reported that "Ukraine thus appears to have won the battle of Kharkiv."^[137] The Mayor of Kharkiv said to the BBC: "There was no shelling in the city for the last five days. There was only one attempt from Russians to hit the city with a missile rocket near Kharkiv airport, but the missile was eliminated by Ukrainian Air Defence."^[138]

Russia continued its attempts to encircle Sievierodonetsk and began to focus on cutting the highway at Bakhmut.^[135][139] By 14 May, the Ukrainians claimed to have killed over 6,000 Russian soldiers in Mariupol. They also claimed to have destroyed 78 tanks and 100 other armored vehicles.^[140] On 15 May, Ukrainian forces reached the border near Kharkiv, while continuing to push back Russian and LPR units.^[139] On the following day, the siege of Mariupol was formally concluded as the Ukrainian military personnel in the city's Azovstal agreed to gradually evacuate and surrender to the Russian forces.^[139][141] Four days later, the Russians announced that they had taken an additional 2,439 Ukrainians prisoners in Mariupol, bringing the total number captured during the siege to 3,917.^[142] In addition, it was reported that unrest – including public protests – was growing among pro-Russian collaborators and separatists in eastern Ukraine, as they accused Russian forces of corruption, incompetence, and forced mobilizations.^[139]

Over the following days, Russia made little to no progress at the Izium frontline, but captured some territory around Popasna and Sievierodonetsk, increasingly threatening Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk with encirclement.^[143] Russia also intensified air and artillery strikes targeting Ukrainian positions around Izium, possibly to prepare for renewed attacks.^[144][145] At the northern front,^[where?] Russia and separatist forces retook a few villages and fortified their positions to stall the Ukrainian counter-offensive.^[145][144]

After the Ukrainian counteroffensive, Russian forces were driven back to defensive positions, some of which were within miles of the Russia-Ukraine international border. Despite this, they continued to shell various Kharkiv suburbs, as well as the city proper, killing numerous civilians and wounding dozens more. Skirmishes along the Russia–Ukraine border in the area of northeastern Ukraine continued between Russian and Ukrainian forces beyond 14 May.^{[146][147][148]}

On 20 May, Russian forces again shelled several villages in the Kharkiv district, including the city of Kharkiv itself, using BM-21 Grad, BM-27 Uragan and BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launchers.^[149][150] On 21 May, the Ukrainian police confirmed the recovery of the bodies of six military officials, including a Russian colonel, in the settlement of Zolochiv.^[151]

On 22 May, the Russian forces made minimal progress in eastern Ukraine. New reports confirmed that Russian troops had occupied Rubizhne in the northern Kharkiv Oblast on May 19. In northern Kharkiv, Russian forces brought in reinforcements to maintain their positions on the west bank of the Seversky Donets River, instead of retreating across the river to use it as a defensive position, to prevent further Ukrainian advances north or east that could jeopardize Russian communication lines along the Izium axis.^[152] On 24 May, Russian forces attempted to retake Ternova in northern Kharkiv Oblast.^[153]

On 23 May, Russian forces took control of Lyman and attacked Avdiivka.^[144][154] On 24 May, Russian forces attacked from Popasna with the aim of cutting off Bakhmut, Lysychansk and Sievierodonetsk, gaining some ground. Ukrainian forces made a controlled withdrawal southwest of Popasna to strengthen their defensive position at Bakhmut. Russia subsequently captured Svitlodarsk.^[154][155]

Around this time, Ukrainian defence adviser Yuriy Sak publicly demanded more multiple launch rocket systems to reinforce Ukrainian artillery capabilities.^[156] On 31 May, the United States announced a military aid package that included precision rocket systems with a range of 80 km.^[157]

After a fierce month-long battle that ruined much of the city, Russian and LPR forces captured Sievierodonetsk along the Siverskyi Donets river on 25 June.^[158] On the same day, the battle of Lysychansk began, which also saw a Russian victory on 2 July. The following day Russian and LPR forces declared full control of the entire Luhansk region.^[159] On 4 July, The Guardian reported that after the capture of the Luhansk oblast, that Russian invasion troops would continue their invasion into the adjacent Donetsk oblast to attack the cities of Sloviansk and Bakhmut. The Russian military declared an "operational pause" to rest and replenish front line forces in Luhansk.^[160] On 9 July, a Russian rocket attack on two residential buildings in Chasiv Yar killed at least 48 people.^[161]

On 25–26 July, after Russia's operational pause concluded, Russian sources reported that the towns of Berestove, Novoluhanske, and the nearby Vuhlehirska Power Station had been captured. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) suggested Ukrainian defenders likely conducted a deliberate withdrawal from the area.^{[162][163][164]}

On 13 August, the Russian defence ministry said its forces had captured the village of Udy, northwest of Kharkiv.^[165] They attempted to push further, and fierce battles occurred in Zolochiv on August 19 and 20, with Ukrainian forces repulsing the attack.^{[166][failed verification]}

The Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of Ukraine's General Staff, Oleksiy Hromov, alleged on 1 September that Russian president Vladimir Putin had ordered Russian forces to capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast by 15 September via a renewed offensive. Hromov further alleged that Russia was going to rotate its recently established 3rd Army Corps to the Donetsk front. A senior U.S. defense official dismissed the purported deployment of the "older, unfit, and ill-trained" 3rd Army Corps personnel as being unable to increase Russia's overall combat power in Ukraine.^[167]

Early winter (November–December 2022)

Russian forces launched a renewed offensive in southern and northern Donetsk Oblast in early November,^[184] with Russian troops intensifying their attempts to break through Ukrainian defensive lines in Bakhmut, Soledar, Pavlivka, and Vuhledar.^[185] On 11 November, DPR forces were reported to have entered Pavlivka.^[186] Russian forces, including Wagner Group PMC fighters, overran defensive lines south of Bakhmut in late November, claiming to capture the settlements of Kurdiumivka, Ozarianivka, Zelenopillia, and Andriivka by 30 November, while clashes in Opytne continued.^[187][188]

By December 2022, the Donbas was the site of the fiercest fighting in Ukraine. Russian and Ukrainian forces funneled reinforcements from other fronts to the Bakhmut–Soledar axis while Ukraine's eastern counteroffensive largely stalled along the Lyman–Kreminna–Svatove axis.^[189] Russia spent much of the month consolidating defense lines along the Kreminna–Svatove front, seeking to prevent a Ukrainian breakthrough to the P-66 highway; the Ukrainians, including the 92nd Mechanized Brigade, attempted intermittent local counterattacks across the line of contact while repelling many local Russian assaults.^[190] The Kreminna–Svatove line became a defensive flashpoint for Russia, which reportedly reinforced the area with two battalions of T-90 tanks and a few BMPT armored fighting vehicles, and reportedly mobilized elements of the 144th Guards Motor Rifle Division and 8th Guards Combined Arms Army.^[190][191] Both the Russians and Ukrainians claimed to be conducting offensive operations along this front line and repelling local enemy assaults; on 10 December, the Russian defense ministry said it was making new advances east of Lyman^[192] while the Institute for the Study of War assessed that Ukraine "likely" controlled the contested front line settlement of Chervonopopivka as of 22 December.^[193]

Meanwhile, multiple Russian sources reported that Wagner fighters had captured and were clearing Yakovlivka, located along Soledar's northeastern flank, by 7 December.^[194] The Russians also claimed to have shot down a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in Yakovlivka on 8 December.^[195] Ukraine was reportedly rotating in fresh units in the Donbas by mid–December, particularly from the Kherson front. The 57th Motorized Brigade, 36th Marine Brigade, and the 46th Airmobile Brigade reinforced the Bakhmut front alongside the 24th Mechanized Brigade, relieving the 93rd, which had defended Bakhmut and Soledar for months. The 28th Brigade reportedly rotated to Kostiantynivka and the 18th Marine Infantry Battalion, 35th Marine Brigade reinforced Nevelske and Pervomaiske.^{[196][better source needed]}

Heavy clashes along the Bakhmut–Soledar axis continued by 10 December, typified by grueling trench warfare, drone warfare, artillery duels, and minor ground assaults amid freezing temperatures. Zelenskyy accused Russia of having "destroyed" Bakhmut, saying there was "no residential space that hasn't been damaged by shelling for a long time." On 10 December, the Ukrainian General Staff said more than 20 settlements were bombarded in fighting in the Bakhmut area alone.^[192][197] Ukrainian paratroopers of the 71st Separate Huntsman Brigade reported repelling a Russian "sabotage and reconnaissance group" with mortar fire near Bakhmut, "eliminating" at least two attackers.^[198] On 16 December, Wagner PMC forces reportedly finished clearing Yakovlivka, further threatening Soledar's northeastern flank.^[199]

In southern and western Donetsk Oblast, the battle of Marinka continued,^[193] with DPR president Denis Pushilin claiming on 15 December that 80 percent of the city had been captured amid ongoing heavy urban combat.^[200] Russia also continued demolition and reconstruction projects in Mariupol, reportedly seeking to turn the ruined city into a garrison city. Observers accused Russia of using the rebuilding efforts to cover up and destroy evidence of war crimes in Mariupol, particularly the March 2022 Mariupol theatre airstrike.^[201][202]

Russian regular, separatist, and Wagner PMC forces continued attempts to break defense lines on Bakhmut's southern and eastern flanks via small probing attacks; Wagner fighters spearheaded ground assaults into the city and its satellite suburbs, each of which Ukraine had turned into a stronghold. Media, government officials, and eyewitnesses described the fighting in Bakhmut as a "meat grinder" as both Ukrainian and Russian troops reportedly suffered heavy casualties daily with negligible changes on the front line.^[194][203]

The ISW assessed that the pace of Russia's Donbas advances in November and December was roughly equivalent to the pace in October. According to the ISW, Russian forces gained a total of 192 sq km in the Bakhmut sector between 1 October and 20 December.^[204] Footage posted online by a Russian journalist confirmed Russian forces had captured Andriivka, 10 km south of Bakhmut, by 22 December. The journalist claimed that Wagner fighters were fighting near Klishchiivka, where Ukraine reportedly had established strong defensive positions. Meanwhile, Ukraine continued to hold the northern half of Opytne and the western half of Marinka.^[193] On 26 December, Zelenskyy referred to Ukraine's situation in the Donbas as "difficult," saying the Russians were "using all the resources available to them ... to squeeze out at least some advance."^[205] Ukraine's Eastern Military Command reported that the Bakhmut area was shelled 225 times on 26 December alone.^[206]

Russian breakthroughs (December 2022–March 2023)

Russian forces intensified their encirclement attempts of Bakhmut in the winter, as Wagner broke through Ukrainian defense lines in the salt-mining town of Soledar on 27 December, capturing Bakhmutske.^[207] Soledar itself was taken by 16 January 2023, degrading Bakhmut's northeastern defensive flanks.^[208][209] The recapture of Soledar allowed Russian forces, spearheaded by Wagner fighters, to further flank Bakhmut from the northeastern direction and assert control over a portion of the T0513 highway towards Siversk.^[210] Defences along Bakhmut's northern flank collapsed as the Ukrainians withdrew from Krasna Hora on 11 February.^[211] Wagner advanced 2-3 kilometers to the west of Blahodatne, capturing the area near the main M-03 highway leading into Bakhmut. Both the UK Defence Ministry and Ukraine's governor of Donetsk Pavlo Kyrylenko said the Russians were attempting a pincer movement of Bakhmut, enveloping the city from multiple directions and establishing fire control over most Ukrainian supply routes into it.^{[212][213][214]}

In mid-January, a battle took place in Vodiane. On January 15, around 9-10 in the morning, elements of the DPR's 1st Slovyanska Separate Mechanized Brigade attacked eastern Vodiane from a frozen-over flooded area west of Opytne. These elements were not supported by artillery. At 12pm, a convoy of eight to nine Russian BMP-2s heading towards Ukrainian-controlled west Vodiane was hit by Ukrainian fire, injuring 70% of the soldiers involved, according to the Russian commander of the attack. Two T-72Bs then approached the town, but were destroyed. A third and final attack took place in the afternoon, when some BMPs attempted to drive close to the bridge between Vodiane and Opytne (which had been destroyed during the fighting), but were also destroyed by artillery. There were also attacks on Sieverne, west of Avdiivka.^[215] On 10 February 2023, Russian fighters in Vodiane claimed that there is "not a single living creature in the town" from the destruction.^[216] A group of Russian soldiers from the "Storm" detachment from Kaliningrad released a video in March 2023, claiming they were suffering large losses while fighting in Vodiane.^[217]

By 22 February, Russian units had crossed the M-03 and began assaulting Yahidne and Berkhivka, northwest of Bakhmut, with the Ukrainians claiming to have repelled the assaults amid heavy fighting.^[218] Wagner claimed to have captured both villages by 26 February, however Ukraine's general staff said Russian assaults remained "unsuccessful" amid heavy shelling.^[219][220] Geolocated footage on 4 March showed Russian troops were advancing along both banks of the Berkhivka reservoir located about 4 kilometers northwest of Bakhmut, on the approaches to Khromove and Dubovo-Vasylivka villages, respectively.^[221][222] On 7 March, Ukraine ceded eastern Bakhmut to Russian forces, retreating west of the Bakhmutka river.^{[223][224][225]} Wagner claimed to have advanced along the M-03 and expanded the buffer zone north and west of Bakhmut, capturing the villages of Dubovo-Vasylivka and Zaliznianske by 16 March,^[226][227] however Ukrainian defenders stalled the advance along this axis by 19 March, repelling assaults on Orikhovo-Vasylivka, Bohdanivka, and Khromove villages.^{[228][229][230][231]}

In early March 2023, Zelenskyy referred to the ongoing fighting in the Donbas as "painful and difficult".^[232] Clashes around Avdiivka escalated in February and March, as the Ukrainians claimed Russian forces had begun an attempted encirclement effort of the city.^[233] Russian forces increased the amount of airstrikes in the area as ground units advanced towards Avdiivka's outskirts from the north and northeast, capturing Krasnohorivka (9 km north of Avdiivka) and Vesele (7 km north of Avdiivka) by 21 March.^[234][235] Further to the south, the grinding battle for Marinka had reduced the city to "post-apocalyptic" ruins as Russian ground units made minimal gains amid fierce urban combat with Ukrainian defenders.^[236] DPR leader Denis Pushilin claimed Ukraine was continuously transferring reserves to Marinka.^[237][238]

Capture of Bakhmut and Ukrainian flanking counterattacks (April–May 2023)

Fighting inside Bakhmut continued into April and May 2023. Russian forces controlled 95 percent of the city by 18 May, having corralled Ukrainian defenders into a southwestern neighborhood of multi-story residential buildings the Russians referred to as the "nest", where Ukraine had purportedly concentrated a large number of defending units.^[239][240] As Wagner fighters made gradual gains inside Bakhmut, Ukraine launched counterattacks on the southern and northwestern flanks of the city beginning around 10 May, resulting in Russian units abandoning positions near the Berkhivka reservoir and south of Ivanivske, on the approach to Klishchiivka.^[241] Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade reportedly partook in the recapture of 2 km of territory, in what Ukrainian commander Oleksandr Syrskyi called "the first successful offensive operation in the city's defense".^{[240][242][243][244]}

Despite the Ukrainian counterattacks threatening their flanks, Wagner continued to advance inside the city and claimed to have fully captured it on 20 May, adding that they planned to withdraw from the front line and be replaced by regular Russian troops after finishing clearing operations.^[245][246] Ukraine, however, denied that Bakhmut had fallen and claimed their forces were in the process of partially "encircling" the city via their multiple "localized" gains on the environs.^{[247][248][249]} By 21 May, Wagner forces had consolidated control over Bakhmut proper and halted their advance, with Ukrainian forces still operating in neighboring localities west and south of the city. The ISW assessed that Ukrainian forces had withdrawn from the city itself but were still counterattacking on the outskirts.^{[250][251][241]}

Early winter (November–December 2023)

In early November, positional battles south of Bakhmut continued along the Klishchiivka-Andriivka-Kurdiumivka railway line, while Russian sources claimed increased offensive operations on the Berkhivka Reservoir axis further northwest of Bakhmut.^[271] On 6 November, Ukrainian and Russian sources reported that Russian troops had made a "marginal" advance south of the Berkhivka Reservoir, though it was unclear at the time if they recaptured the entire reservoir or just the southern shore.^[272] On 10 November, Russian sources reported Russian troops had regained lost positions in forestry north of Klishchiivka and a tree line north of Andriivka, pushing Ukrainian forces away from the railway line and the T0513 highway, however Ukrainian mines, drones, and artillery were complicating the advance. In turn, the Ukrainian General Staff reported repelling assaults near Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, and Andriivka.^[267]

In mid-November, General Syrskyi confirmed Russian forces had intensified their assaults north and south of Bakhmut in an attempt to regain the initiative and retake lost positions.^{[269][273][274]}

On 13–14 November, Russian troops—including elements of the 98th Guards Airborne Division's "Storm" Division—advanced west of Yahidne, advancing along a tree line southwest of Orikhovo-Vasylivka towards Bohdanivka and securing new positions near the Berkhivka Reservoir in the process. Russian troops reportedly crossed the railway north of Klishchiivka and were consolidating positions, though Ukraine's 93rd Mechanized Brigade claimed artillery had pushed them back across the railway. Yuri Fedorenko, the commander of the drone specialist "Achilles" Company, confirmed the situation in the Bakhmut direction was becoming complicated, crediting Russian troops' constantly shifting tactics and heavy usage of battlefield drones. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian General Staff reported repelling numerous assaults north and south of Bakhmut in its daily reports, including towards Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka, Klishchiivka, and west of Dubovo-Vasylivka.^{[268][269][275]} On 16 November, Maksym Zhorin, the deputy commander of the 3rd Assault Brigade, accused Russian troops of deploying chemical weapons during clashes near Bakhmut.^[276]

By 19 November, the Russians were continuing assaults towards Khromove village, Bohdanivka, and against Klishchiivka, where the Ukrainians continued to hold the tactical heights west of the village.^[270][277] On 29 November, Russia said its forces had taken control of Khromove.^[278]

By November 2023, both the Russians and Ukrainians were reportedly using cluster munitions on the eastern front, with the Russian cluster munitions being air-launched and Ukrainian cluster munitions, supplied by the United States, being fired via artillery.^[279] Around 20 November, video emerged online of Russian forces reportedly targeting Ukrainian positions near Staromaiorske with RBK-500 cluster munitions fitted with UMPK glide bomb guidance kits. According to The War Zone online magazine, the UMPK-fitted RBK-500s are considered highly effective against personnel and soft targets, making them a logical weapon of choice for Russia in eastern Ukraine, where fighting is dominated by trench warfare amid treelines and open terrain.^[280][281] According to a Ukrainian platoon commander on the Bakhmut front, their cluster munitions were becoming increasingly ineffective as the Russians adapted; Russian troops began assaulting positions in smaller units and were digging their trenches deeper and making them harder to strike.^[282]

Between 8–9 December, on the Bakhmut-Soledar front, Russian troops reportedly advanced 1.5 kilometers and 3.5 kilometers total in an apparent attempt to encircle Vesele, located 20 kilometers northeast of Bakhmut.^[283] Over a month later, on 18 January 2024, the Russian defence ministry claimed Russian troops had captured Vesele. Though located near Soledar, it marked the first settlement captured on the southern approach to the Siversk-Bilohorivka axis, a section of the eastern front that remained mostly stagnant throughout 2023. The Russian claims of advances were not independently verified at the time.^{[284][285][286]}

Russian forces captured Marinka on 25 December. According to The New York Times, the capture of the ruined city was further evidence that Russian forces had seized the initiative in the war after Ukraine's largely unsuccessful summer counteroffensive. The stalled Ukrainian offensive and renewed Russian assaults resulted in Russian forces ultimately seizing more territory in 2023 than they lost.^[287]

Avdiivka breakthrough (January 2024–April 2024)

The Russian offensive on the Bakhmut front continued into January 2024, slowly pushing west towards Chasiv Yar, with ongoing clashes in and near Bohdanivka, and along the Ivanivske-Andriivka-Klishchiivka axis.^[282] General Oleksandr Syrskyi said Russian forces were using kamikaze drones and electronic warfare alongside assault groups supported by artillery to break through Ukrainian defenses on the Bakhmut front.^[288] On 20 January 2024, Ukrainian spokesperson Colonel Oleksandr Shtupun stated that Russia was focusing its assault operations in Donetsk on Avdiivka and Novomykhailivka, adding that Russian ground assaults were mostly composed of infantry, with very limited armored vehicle support. Russian forces had conducted 592 artillery strikes and launched three missile strikes on the Donetsk front in the past 24 hours, according to Shtupun.^[289]

In late January–early February 2024, Russian forces broke through Ukrainian defences in Avdiivka and began flanking and encircling troops of the embattled 110th Mechanized Brigade, prompting a Ukrainian retreat and resulting in Russian forces capturing the fortified city after months of deadly fighting.^[290] The Russians continued to advance west of Avdiivka, reportedly capturing Lastochkyne, Stepove and Sieverne by 27 February.^[291][292] Syrskyi said that the 3rd Assault and 25th Airborne Brigades had pushed Russian troops back from Orlivka on 29 February.^[293] Clashes also continued for Novomykhailivka, with Russia claiming to have captured Pobieda on 22 February, further threatening Novomykhailivka's northern flank and expanding the buffer zone south of Marinka.^[294]

In February–March 2024, Russian forces continued offensive operations on the Bohdanivka-Chasiv Yar direction, namely along the O0506 highway, north and northeast of Ivanivske, and by attempting to bypass the heights north and northwest of Klishchiivka, according to Ukrainian military observer Kostyantyn Mashovets. On 21–23 February, Russian sources claimed that Russian troops, including elements of the 98th Guards Airborne Division, had entered the eastern outskirts of Ivanivske and advanced to Sadova Street amid fierce clashes.^{[295][296][297]} By 3 March, Russian troops had reached central Ivanivske. Ukraine's Tavria operational-strategic group said defenders were managing to build isolated ramparts, bunkers and anti-tank ditches amid the fighting.^[298] After weeks of fighting, the Russian defence ministry claimed the capture of Ivanivske on 23 March, although DeepState mapping claimed the town was still contested as of 2 April.^[299] The Russians nevertheless continued their advance towards Chasiv Yar, reportedly capturing operationally important heights north of the city and Ivanivske respectively.^[300][299]

Clashes continued west and south of Avdiivka in March and April 2024, particularly along the Tonenke-Orlivka-Berdychi line^[301] and the Vodiane-Pervomaiske front. By 1 March, the Russians had a foothold on the eastern outskirts of Berdychi, had entered central Orlivka, and were threatening the northern and eastern flanks of Tonenke.^[298] The Russians later claimed to have captured Orlivka on 19 March and Tonenke on 21 March.^[302][303] On 12 March, the Russian defence ministry claimed the capture of Nevelske, a village located on the southern flank of Pervomaiske and less than 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) north of Krasnohorivka.^[304] The Russians claimed to have captured Vodiane on 5 April and reportedly captured Pervomaiske by 10 April.^[305][306]

Battle of Chasiv Yar (April 2024–present)

Russian media reported on 5 April that their troops had entered the eastern suburbs of Chasiv Yar. Ukraine's eastern command denied these reports but admitted the situation on the city's outskirts had become "tense".^[307] On 6 April, Colonel-General Oleksandr Syrskyi–who succeeded Valerii Zaluzhnyi as Ukraine's commander-in-chief on 8 February–stated "Today, the fiercest battles are underway in the areas of Pervomaiske and Vodiane, as well as east of Chasiv Yar, where the enemy is trying to break through our defense lines."^[308]

On 13 April, Syrskyi stated the situation on the eastern front had "deteriorated significantly" in recent days and that fighting had intensified following the 2024 Russian presidential election. Syrskyi partially attributed recent Russian gains in Donetsk Oblast to their superior weaponry and spoke of the need for training of more Ukrainian infantry units.^[309] The same day, DeepStateMap.Live reported that Russian forces captured Bohdanivka, which is located less than 6 miles (10 km) from Chasiv Yar, although Ukraine denied it was captured.^{[310][311][312]}