Latest on the battle fronts in Ukraine

Here is the latest picture of the Ukraine battlefield as of February 28, 2026:

Overall Situation

February 2026 has been described as one of the most intense months of the war, marked by massive Russian missile and drone strikes on energy infrastructure, deep Ukrainian counter-strikes inside Russia, and ongoing US-mediated diplomatic talks that may shape the conflict's next phase. The front lines remain largely static, with Russia making only slow, grinding advances in select areas.[youtube]​[nytimes]​

Air War: Massive Russian Strikes

Russia launched at least four separate drone/missile barrages exceeding 400 projectiles each in February alone. On the night of February 25–26, Russian forces launched 420 drones and 39 missiles, including Iskander-M ballistic missiles, Kh-101 cruise missiles, and large numbers of Shahed-type drones, primarily targeting Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Ukraine has been retaliating with its own long-range strikes, hitting Russian command posts, ammunition depots, and military assets across occupied territories and even inside Bryansk Oblast.[criticalthreats]​

Eastern Front (Donetsk)

• Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka area: Both Russian and Ukrainian forces have made localized advances, with positions intermixed and active skirmishing.[criticalthreats]​

• Pokrovsk direction: Russian forces continue using small-group infiltration tactics — on motorcycles and buggies — to push into Ukrainian defenses around Myrnohrad.[criticalthreats]​

• Russian forces are nearing capture of key towns in eastern Ukraine after a year of grinding assaults, which Moscow hopes to leverage in peace negotiations.[nytimes]​

Southern Front (Zaporizhzhia & Kherson)

• Ukrainian forces reportedly liberated approximately 300 square kilometers of territory in an unspecified area of southern Ukraine, with President Zelensky attributing gains partly to SpaceX blocking Russian Starlink access.[criticalthreats]​

• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Oleksandrivka, liberating several villages southeast of that town.[criticalthreats]​

• Russian forces continue limited ground assaults northeast of Kherson City toward the Antonivskyi Bridge.[criticalthreats]​

• In the Zaporizhzhia region alone, Russian forces executed 448 assaults on 34 locations in a single day as recently as February 20.[aljazeera]​

Northern Front (Kharkiv & Sumy)

• Russian forces continued offensive operations in northern Sumy Oblast (February 27) and northern Kharkiv Oblast (February 28) but made no confirmed territorial advances on either day.understandingwar+1

• Russian drone operators from the Black Raven detachment are actively striking Ukrainian positions in the Kharkiv direction.[criticalthreats]​

Diplomatic Backdrop

Trilateral US-Ukraine-Russia talks in Geneva began in mid-February alongside the fighting. Ceasefire negotiations have so far stalled, but international pressure on both sides is intensifying as the war enters its fourth year. On February 26, Russia repatriated the bodies of 1,000 Ukrainian soldiers in exchange for those of 35 Russian personnel.wikipedia+1[youtube]​