Fighting continues in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Since early February, a regrouping of Russian troops has been noted in the Kupyansk-Svatovo area. According to Ukrainian military analyst Konstantin Mashovets, units of the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment, which belongs to the 11th Army Corps of the Russian Baltic Fleet, have been redeployed east of Ivanovka, not far from the city of Kupyansk. This action hints at changes in the Russian army's strategy in this region.
Behind Mashovets, in the Tabaivka-Krokhmalne area, units of the 2nd Russian Motorized Rifle Division unsuccessfully tried to continue the offensive towards the Kyslovka-Kotlyarivka line. Therefore, they redirected their efforts to Pishchane, west of Krokhmalne. At the same time, the redeployment of the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment near Ivanovka is associated with changes in the activities of Russian troops, who were unable to advance in the Tabaivka area.
In addition, south of Kreminna, positional battles are ongoing in the Terni, Yampolivka, and Torske areas, as well as west of Kreminna in the Belogorivka area. Mashovets emphasizes the presence of at least three reinforced Russian motorized rifle battalions near Yampolivka, but they have not been able to advance further. It is likely that the Russian command has transferred various units to the Lyman direction to replace parts of the 90th Panzer Division operating in this area. These actions may indicate changes in the strategy of the Russian troops aimed at strengthening the defense in certain sectors of the front.
As part of Operation No. 2 in the Donetsk region, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on February 18, unsuccessful attacks by Russian forces were recorded near Viyimka, located northeast of Bakhmut.
Also on the same day, limited fighting was observed in the Bakhmut area, but no specific changes were recorded on the front line. According to information sent to Ukrainian and Russian sources, fighting took place near Bohdanivka (northwest of Bakhmut), Ivanovske (west of Bakhmut), as well as in the Klishchiivka and Andriivka areas (both southwest of Bakhmut).
According to a Russian correspondent, Russian Federation troops have made progress near Ivanovske, but this information has not been visually confirmed by ISW experts. Russian forces have also continued to clear recently captured positions in Avdiivka, after Moscow announced the completion of the capture of this settlement on February 17. It is analyzed that Russian troops are currently clearing and consolidating their positions, as Ukrainian forces have withdrawn from Avdiivka over the past two days.
Russian sources also spread information about the activity of Russian troops in the destroyed city, claiming that they were trying to break through the defenses near Lastochkino (west of Avdiivka), using small groups of infantry to storm the outskirts of the city. However, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the defense forces repelled attacks near Lastochkino on February 18.
Thus, on February 18, there was activity southwest of Avdiivka, but no specific changes to the front line in this region were recorded. Ukrainian and Russian sources also reported fighting near Pervomaiske and Nevelske.
On February 18, positional battles remained active to the west and southwest of Donetsk, but no specific changes in the front line were recorded. According to Ukrainian and Russian sources, fighting took place to the west of Donetsk near Georgievka and to the southwest of the city, in the areas of Pobeda and Novomykhailivka. According to a Russian correspondent, Russian troops allegedly launched an offensive towards Kurakhovo from the Georgievka area.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that on February 18, Ukrainian troops repelled attacks by Russian forces south of Prechystivka and west of Staromayorske. Following reports of renewed offensive operations, Russian troops made limited progress in the western part of Zaporizhia region. Geolocation data published on February 18 shows the advance of Russian troops along a strip north of Kopany and the level of military activity near Verbovye and Robotyne, although ISW experts did not confirm these reports.
The Eastern Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on February 17, Ukrainian forces repelled a Russian attack, which included up to 30 pieces of equipment, in an unspecified area in the Zaporizhia direction, probably near Robotyne. This is consistent with numerous statements by the Russian Federation about the renewal of the offensive on Robotyne on February 17, the publication noted.
The Russian correspondent also noted that Russian troops used modernized Soviet T-55 main battle tanks, which had weak protection against drones and insufficient hull and turret armor, during the assault near Robotyne on February 17.
On February 18, on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region, in the Krynyki area, positional battles continued. Kostyantyn Mashovets, a Ukrainian military observer, reported on the continued attack of airborne assault units of Russian troops, such as the 26th and 28th motorized rifle regiments of the Russian Federation, the 144th motorized rifle brigade, the 328th and 337th airborne regiments, the 810th motorized rifle brigade (Black Sea Fleet), and the “Shturm” airborne assault detachments, on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Krynyki.
The situation on the front was tense. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 56 combat clashes were recorded on the front during the day.
The spokesman for the Tavria Defense Forces, Dmytro Lykhovii, stated that the invaders have intensified their attacks on Lastochkino in the direction of Avdiivka. 14 attacks were repelled in 24 hours.
Also in the Zaporizhia region, Russian invaders tried 13 times to attack the positions of the Ukrainian defense forces near Verbovye and Robotyne, but without success.
Earlier, the General Staff reported that Russia's losses in the war against Ukraine as of February 17 amounted to 1,050 occupiers, and 28 artillery systems and 18 enemy vehicles were destroyed.
According to the commander of the Tavria Special Operations Command, Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, during the four months of fighting for Avdiivka, Russian troops lost 47,000 soldiers, and Ukrainian military personnel destroyed hundreds of enemy tanks, artillery installations, and armored vehicles.
