With negotiations for the diplomatic resolution of the Ukrainian crisis unable to overcome the basic “obstacles” mainly concerning the territorial issue and the issue of the Donbass, and despite the pressure exerted by the US on Kyiv for the immediate end of the war… until June 2026, it is Russia’s military advance that sets the pace and determines developments.
The Russian army is now in a position to strike Kharkiv, the second largest city of Ukraine, with drones, at a time when the Ukrainian defense is collapsing everywhere in the Donbass and Ukrainian soldiers are reportedly ready to abandon Slovyansk and Kramatorsk, their strongest “fortresses” in the Donbass…
There are not few analysts who argue that the best scenario at this moment for Kyiv is to accept the withdrawal of its armed forces from the Donbass… because otherwise very soon they will be faced with even more difficult choices that may concern Kharkiv, Nikoleaev and Odessa… already Ukrainian officials close to Zelensky are warning about this…
Within this dystopian landscape, Ukrainian citizens show the future, as according to the latest polls, they are politically “clearing out” Zelensky, essentially leaving him… out of the race for power…
The end is approaching…
The political end of Zelensky
Volodymyr Zelensky did not enter the top three leaders with the greatest trust of Ukrainian citizens, according to Strana.ua, citing a survey by the company Ipsos for February.
“Zelensky was found only in fourth place in the trust index of Ukrainians, gathering just 49%,” the publication states.
According to the survey, in first place in the trust of Ukrainians is the former commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and current ambassador to the United Kingdom, Valery Zaluzhny with 63%, followed by boxer Oleksandr Usyk with 56% while in third place is the head of Zelenksy’s office Kyrylo Budanov with 55%.
A previous survey in January by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology showed that Zelenksy lagged in trust both against Budanov and Zaluzhny: 62% of respondents stated that they trust Zelenksy, while 72% and 70% respectively trust Zaluzhny and Budanov. At the same time, an older survey by American Political Services showed that Zaluzhny would defeat Zelensky in a possible second round of presidential elections.
It is recalled that Zelensky’s presidential term ended on 20 May 2024.
The 2024 presidential elections in Ukraine were canceled as Zelensky invoked the imposition of martial law and general mobilization.
Terror advance
At the same time, the news is extremely unpleasant for Zelensky also on the military field.
In footage circulating on social networks, a Russian FPV drone is reportedly striking a military target very close to Kharkiv.
The data was confirmed by former blogger “Flash”, now advisor to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Serhiy Beskrestnov.
He himself acknowledged that it is a serious threat, which Kyiv cannot confront.
“These are real threats, which we will have to deal with technologically.
Detection based on RER will not work here.
Radars will help, but in the case of low flying FPV they are not a panacea.
Acoustics? Perhaps,” commented Beskrestnov on his channel on Telegram, highlighting Kyiv’s weakness…
“Knocking on the doors of Kharkiv”
For its part, the channel «Осведомитель» clarified that the drone struck a military vehicle at a distance of approximately 23–25 km from the line of contact, although the forces of the 74th brigade «Бешеные псы» point out that their own drones are “already knocking on the doors of Kharkiv”.
“It is not just a flight.
It is a demonstration of how the enemy’s rear is being pushed back.
Each new day brings us closer to Victory, while the flight kilometers of our ‘birds’ are constantly increasing.
Did the enemy think it was safe?
Probably not!
Russian wings grow longer with every flight,” state in celebratory tones the Russian soldiers of «Бешеные псы».
Mass wave of attack
The news that the Russian drone “knocked on the door” of Kharkiv came after the strong nighttime combined Russian attack with missiles and «Geran» in the Kharkiv region.
According to the head of the Russian underground network in Nikolaev, Sergey Lebedev, the attack had a “distributed” character.
The strikes on energy infrastructure in the city were accompanied by targeted strikes in the suburbs and along the logistical route east of the city.
Lebedev described the attack as an attempt to simultaneously affect the power supply of the regional center and the military or transport infrastructure around it.
According to his information, a strike was also carried out on a warehouse with ready to launch UAV.
Four platforms with installed towers for launching drones were also hit there.
Within firing range
“Drone operators are gaining the initiative, that is a fact.
Despite the fact that there is active enemy resistance in the Kharkiv direction, we are now within firing range, if it can be said that way.
The advanced units are at such a distance from where FPV drones can already reach.
From what I know, it can reach up to 50 kilometers….
Specific conclusions can be drawn from this,” points out the Russian retired colonel Yevgeny Krivosheev.
In his view, the General Staff now has two options for the main strike, noting that the situation resembles World War II.
“During operation «Bagration» (a huge Soviet military operation during World War II conducted from 22/6 to 19/8 of 1944 that led to the destruction of the Germans in Belarus and constituted one of the greatest military defeats of the Wehrmacht) we deceived the enemy and struck in the impassable forests of Belarus, dissolving Army Group «Center».
The fascists expected that we would strike Army Group «North» in the direction of Lviv.
Nevertheless, even now the enemy probably does not fully understand where to direct its main forces to repel our attack.
I believe that the liberation of Kharkiv will be a landmark event.
It is the largest nearby city in our region from the former Ukraine, the largest logistical and industrial center.
I am certain that our army will succeed,” notes the Russian analyst Yevgeny Krivosheev.
American experimental nuclear center
At the same time, Russian analysts state that beyond the strategic characteristics of Kharkiv, there is another detail that drew the attention of the military expert Alexander Artamonov.
According to him, the Russian Group «North», which is conducting battles in this direction, also has another significant objective.
At a distance of 35–40 km from the Russian border, near Kharkiv, there is an American experimental nuclear center, installed by the US in 2010.
“What research was conducted there is not known even to Kyiv.
But it is obvious that these are ‘studies’ that for some reason are difficult to conduct at home.
Although officially the object is described as a ‘training nuclear reactor’, it is well known that there is also a storage of radioactive waste there.
That is, it constitutes potential material for a ‘dirty bomb’,” noted Artamonov.
As he states, the center – «Neutron Source» at the base of the Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology of the Academy of Sciences of Ukraine – was built 12 years ago.
The reactors were supposedly intended for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in oncological diseases.
However, Artamonov raises the question of where the evidence is, underlining the danger that such an object poses for Russia, when it is located just two steps from the border.
“Therefore, the rapid neutralization of such a potential threat constitutes an immediate mission of the country’s leadership.
And it is no coincidence that the West is once again talking about nuclear blackmail, in order to stop our troops,” concluded the Russian military expert.
Different strategy by Russia
During the latest combined missile attack by Russia on targets in the Ukrainian rear, the Russian armed forces used a different tactic, striking logistical infrastructure simultaneously, with Zircon missiles on energy targets and with Iskander and Kalibr on military and military industrial infrastructure…
According to the Russian military analyst Mikhail Medvedev, creator of the channel «Узел связи», Russian soldiers of the group «East» continue their advance, conducting battles in the areas of Rizdvyanka, Vozdvizhevka, Verkhnyaya Tersa, Gorky and Komsomolskoye (Gulyaypolskoye).
Fire strikes have been recorded on open positions and reserves of the Ukrainians in the areas of Vozdvizhevka, Gulyaypolskoye, Yegorovka and Novoselki.
According to the channel «Воин DV», the Russians continue their advance to the west and northwest from Gulyaypole, stating that in the last 24 hours Ukrainian assault groups, taking advantage of bad weather conditions, attempted one more unsuccessful attack in the northern sector, which however was also drowned in blood…
Ukrainian counterattack for the… media
The end of January 2026 was marked by the liberation by the Russian group «East» of a large defensive area, including the settlement of Ternovatoe.
A few days later, the Ukrainians, concentrating significant assault forces in the north, launched a counterattack with the aim of approaching the administrative borders of the regions of Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk.
Based on the nature of the actions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the missions of the counterattacks had more of a diplomatic and media character.
The initial plan of the Ukrainian leadership provided for a rapid “surprise attack”, which, in case of success, could be widely presented in the media – something that ultimately did not happen.
The goal of the Ukrainians was to improve the negotiating climate, presenting a “positive dynamic at the front”, as well as to show allies that “the forces still exist”, but in a seemingly effortless way.
At the same time, for almost a week Kyiv categorically denied the existence of any counterattack and acknowledged it only after the losses had reached a catastrophic level.
Lies, lies, lies…
After a week of unsuccessful and very costly attacks, the Ukrainians were forced to fully activate the media, beginning to draw maps and publish impressive reports about the recapture of hundreds of square kilometers.
The improvement of the negotiating climate “in a realistic way” failed, and thus commanders of all levels of the Armed Forces of Ukraine began in chorus to use the available “Kalibr” through their controlled resources: “The most ironic thing is that in reality it was not possible to demonstrate any substantial result.
We saw only a few ‘regiment operations’, a failed attempt to raise a flag and two videos at the same monument in the westernmost district of Ternovatoe.
The second was filmed as if the first was considered simply shameful and unconvincing.
The seizure of territories was limited to verbal statements by the leadership and notes by enemy bloggers,” points out the channel «Узел связи».
As Russian analysts note, there may be Ukrainian statements, but there is no evidence… for their military… successes.
Neutralization of French mercenary
At the same time, information speaks of the elimination of another French mercenary.
Specifically, the forces «East» reported the neutralization of another French mercenary – Jean-Baptiste Nicolas Ciles, call sign Hennesy.
In mid November 2025 he arrived in Ukraine, underwent basic training within a few weeks and joined the 31st mechanized brigade, which recently suffered serious losses in the regions of Zaporizhia and Dnipropetrovsk.
Ukrainians bid farewell to Donetsk
In the Krasnoliman area, in the Slovyansk direction, fierce battles continue around the settlements of Alexandrovka, Yarovaya and Sosnovoe, as reported by Russian soldiers, creators of the channel «Дневник десантника».
At the same time, battles are being fought in the suburbs of Svyatogorsk.
The operation continues in the north and northeast of the city: Drobysheva – Stavki, south of Stavki along the road and in the eastern suburbs of Krasny Liman near Maslyakovka.
With small groups, two or three persons, the Russians penetrate the defense positions of the Ukrainians, advancing towards the urban fabric of Liman.
In the Stavki area the Ukrainian army still maintains a presence.
South of the settlement the effort continues to close the “encirclement”, with the aim of pushing Ukrainian forces towards the limits of the city.
An advance is being made from the southern suburbs of Dibrovo towards the northwest, with the aim of bypassing the city in an arc.
Fierce battles
In the Konstantinovka direction, Russian soldiers of the group «South» are conducting fierce battles for control of the areas around the settlements of Stepanovka, Berestka and Ilyinovka.
In Konstantinovka itself local clashes continue, with notes of tactical successes.
In the Slovyansk direction, the southern forces are encircling Fedorovka II from three sides, south, east and north.
After the liberation of this village and the neighboring Dibrovo, Russian troops will be able to cut the road from Slovyansk to Rai-Alexandrovka and emerge in the rear of Ukrainian forces from the south.
North of there, the Russians are conducting battles for Krivaya Luka.
In the Reznikovka area, Russian forces are capturing new positions north of the village.
“A collapse of the front line of Ukrainian forces is occurring in the Slovyansk direction …
Russian forces are only 12–14 km from the Slovyansk Power Plant!
For this it is necessary to seize Rai-Alexandrovka…
Sirsky is sending everyone who can be gathered to the rear of the station,” reports war correspondent Ruslan Tatarinov, creator of the channel «Шёпот фронта».
Farewell… Donbass
The Ukrainians understand that the time has come to bid farewell to Slovyansk, Kramatorsk and Druzhkovka.
Recently, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Pavel Palisa, stated that “by the end of March Russia intends to seize the entire DNR and open the road to Zaporizhia, Kherson, Nykolaiv and Odessa”.
“It seems that the main goal of the Russian offensive in 2026 is the capture of the areas Druzhkovka – Kramatorsk – Slovyansk.
At the same time, Kramatorsk is the most central city and, thanks to its geography and terrain, is more easily accessible compared to the others. (…)
Ukrainian staff officers characterize the current situation as a systemic crisis,” states the special forces officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Vladimir Antonyuk.
Ukrainian fortresses under siege
The Ukrainian commander confirmed the Russian advance in the areas of Minkovka, Privolye and Nikiforovka, as well as the encirclement of Ukrainian garrisons and the complete neutralization of fortified positions in Orekhovo-Vasilevka, Khromovka and Vasyukovka.
It is noted that, according to the Ukrainians, Russian “assaults” captured Nikiforovka and Lipovka without encountering resistance from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian artillery is massively launching fire against Ukrainian resistance points and firing positions in Rai-Alexandrovka from close distances.
In Druzhkovka systems of resistance against Russian drones have already been created, while in Kramatorsk such a thing almost does not exist.
Most likely this is due to the fact that in Druzhkovka itself the higher command of Ukrainian forces has been installed, which is concerned about its security.
According to the monitoring platform «Сливочный каприз», in the Krasnoarmeysk area Russian “assaults” are advancing into the urban area of Grishino and “capturing new positions under enemy fire”.
The expansion of the control zone of Russian forces in the settlement exceeds one kilometer.
“Judging by the pace of replenishment of VBS and the dynamics of drone use at the front, our command decided by summer to create an absolute reserve in this currently critical sector, to neutralize all enemy drones and then to relatively calmly seize the almost empty area, which is now under its control, at least in the DNR.
They certainly will not advance with armored vehicles, although our advantage in tanks is overwhelming, as well as in missiles, aircraft, ships, artillery, MLRS and nuclear warheads,” claims the Russian retired colonel Aslan Nakhushev.
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