**Russia Steps Up Attacks in Ukraine’s South**
Small groups of Russian infantry have been conducting assault operations in Ukraine’s south over the past two weeks. Their goal is to improve Moscow’s positions on the battlefield, according to a Ukrainian military spokesperson.
Thirty-five attacks have taken place in the area today alone, with Russian forces pushing forward in the Huliaipole and Orikhiv sectors of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The Ukrainian military says these are not major offensives, but rather tactical attempts to improve their position relative to the combat line.
**Intensified Artillery Shelling**
Russia has also increased its artillery shelling and air and missile strikes on Ukraine’s Tavria group of forces, which covers Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. This comes as Ukrainian and Russian sources claim that Russian troops have entered Sudzha, a key Ukrainian-held stronghold in the Kursk region.
**Breakthrough in Embattled Region**
Russian forces had broken through in embattled Kursk Oblast, with multiple sources claiming they had entered Sudzha on March 12. This is significant as President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine’s offensive into Kursk Oblast prevented Russian forces from carrying out large-scale operations in northeastern and southern Ukraine.
**Occupied Regions**
Parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts have been occupied by Russian forces since the full-scale invasion of 2022. The regions remain a regular target of Russian aerial attacks. Heavy fortifications were constructed around the regional capital of Zaporizhzhia ahead of a possible renewed push.
**Possible Ceasefire**
Speaking at a press conference, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Washington has “some positive messages about a possible ceasefire.” He added that the potential for a temporary truce is now up to Russia.