Fighting continues in the east of Ukraine, in particular in Luhansk region and Donetsk region. Since the beginning of February, the regrouping of Russian troops in the Kupyansk-Svatov region has been noted. According to Ukrainian military analyst Kostyantyn Mashovets, units of the 7th Motorized Rifle Regiment, which belongs to the 11th Army Corps of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation, were redeployed to the east of Ivanovka, not far from the city of Kupyansk. This action hints at changes in the strategy of the Russian army in this region.
Behind Mashovets, in the Tabaivka-Krokhmalne region, units of the 2nd Motorized Rifle Division of the Russian Federation unsuccessfully tried to continue their offensive in the direction of the Kislivka-Kotlyarivka border. Therefore, they redirected their efforts to Pischanye, west of Krokhmalny. At the same time, the redeployment of the 7th motorized rifle regiment near Ivanivka is connected with changes in the activities of the Russian troops, which were unable to advance in the Tabaivka area.
In addition, to the south of Kreminnaya, positional battles continue in Terni, Yampolivka, and Torsky districts, as well as to the west of Kreminnaya in the Beilohorivka district. Mashovets emphasizes the presence of at least three reinforced Russian motorized rifle battalions near Yampolivka, but they failed to advance further. Probably, the Russian command transferred various units to the Lyman direction to replace parts of the 90th tank division operating in the 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 Donetsk region, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on February 18, unsuccessful attacks by Russian forces were recorded near Vyimka, located northeast of Bakhmut.
Also, on the same day, limited combat operations were observed in the Bakhmut area, but no concrete changes were recorded on the front line. According to information sent to Ukrainian and Russian sources, fighting took place near Bohdanivka (northwest of Bakhmut), Ivanivskyi (west of Bakhmut), as well as in the districts of Klishchiivka and Andriivka (both southwest of Bakhmut).
According to the Russian correspondent, the troops of the Russian Federation were successful in their advance near Ivanovsky, but this information was not visually confirmed by ISW experts. Russian forces also continued to clear recently captured positions in Avdiivka, following Moscow's announcement of the completion of the capture of the 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 forces in the destroyed city, saying that they are 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 Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that the defense forces repelled attacks near Lastochkino on February 18.
Thus, on February 18, activity was noted southwest of Avdiivka, but no specific changes in the front line in this region were recorded. Ukrainian and Russian sources also reported on fighting near Pervomaiskyi and Nevelskyi.
On February 18, positional battles to the west and southwest of Donetsk remained active, but no specific changes in the front line were recorded. According to Ukrainian and Russian sources, the fighting took place west of Donetsk near Georgiyivka and southwest of the city, in the Pobieda and Novomykhailivka districts. According to the report of the Russian correspondent, the Russian troops allegedly launched an offensive in the direction of Kurakhovo from the Georgiivka district.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced that on February 18, Ukrainian troops repelled attacks by Russian forces south of Prechistivka and west of Staromayorskyi. After reports of the resumption of offensive operations, Russian troops achieved limited success in the western part of the Zaporizhzhia region. Geolocation data released on February 18 showed the advance of Russian troops along the strip north of Kopani and the level of military activity near Verbovoy and Robotyny, although ISW experts did not confirm these reports.
The Eastern Group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on February 17, Ukrainian forces repelled an attack by the Russian Federation, which included up to 30 pieces of equipment, in an unspecified area in the Zaporizhzhia direction, probably near Robotyny. This corresponds to the numerous statements of the Russian Federation about the resumption of the offensive on Robotyn on February 17, the publication stated.
The Russian correspondent also noted that Russian forces used modernized Soviet T-55 main battle tanks, which had weak protection against drones and insufficient hull and turret armor during the assault near Robotyn on February 17.
On February 18, positional battles continued on the eastern (left) bank of the Kherson region, in the Krynok district. Kostyantyn Mashovets, a Ukrainian military observer, reported on the continued attack by 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 OMBr (ChF), amphibious assault units "Sturm", at the position of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Krynkami.
The situation at the front was tense. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 56 combat clashes at the front were recorded during the day.
The spokesman of the Defense Forces of the Tavri region, Dmytro Lykhovii, said that the occupiers intensified their attacks on Lastochkina in the direction of Avdiyivka. 14 attacks were repelled during the day.
Also, in the Zaporizhzhia region, Russian invaders tried 13 times to attack the positions of the Ukrainian defense forces near Verbovoy and Robotyny, 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 Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, the commander of the "Tavria" air defense system, during the four months of fighting for Avdiivka, Russian troops lost 47,000 soldiers, and Ukrainian troops destroyed hundreds of tanks, artillery installations and armored vehicles of the enemy.
