The situation 1443 – March 4, 2026

1. Ukrainian forces damaged a Russian frigate and other Russian warships during March 1 to 2 overnight strikes against the Russian naval base in Novorossiysk, Krasnodar Krai.
2. Russia is blaming Ukraine for a strike on a Russian tanker in the Mediterranean Sea, accusing Ukraine of “escalating” the war.
3. The Kremlin is continuing its reflexive control campaign that aims to influence French and British nuclear strategy and Coalition of the Willing decision-making
4. Russian forces continue to execute Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) and commit war crimes against Ukrainian civilians.
5. Russian forces are intensifying their use of drones, including Shaheds, at both the tactical and operational levels as part of their battlefield air interdiction (BAI) campaign.
6. Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Hulyaipole direction. Russian forces marginally advanced in the Kostyantynivka-Druzhkivka tactical area.

The full update of the Russian offensive 1443 is available on UNDERSTANDING WAR.