Weekly Exclusives
Weekly Exclusives - a newsletter that contains author publications, interviews, exclusive comments, photos and videos.
Report
No Clear Front Line—Replaced by a Multi-Kilometer ‘Gray Zone’
Fighters from the 141st Separate Mechanized Brigade say that enemy drones are now inflicting greater losses during logistics operations than at the “zero line” (front line).
On some sectors, the enemy is preparing for assault operations. Intelligence reports, along with observable troop movements, indicate a steady buildup of personnel and equipment. After four years of war, the battlefield has changed dramatically. It is not only that tree lines have become thinner and more exposed—the “birds” flying above them have changed as well.
The enemy is striving to dominate the sky using “Orlan,” “Zala,” “Supercam,” and “Molniya” UAVs, along with FPV drones and “Shaheds.” The list is long. But the defining factor is not their variety—it is their sheer numbers.
Evacuation Under Fire: Ground Robots in Vovchansk
Ukrinform observed a nearly 12-hour operation by the repair and recovery battalion within the 57th Brigade
Ukrainian forces continue to hold positions on the southern outskirts of the heavily shelled and devastated Vovchansk. Enemy drone activity in this sector remains extremely high, severely complicating rotations and logistics. Delivering supplies and ammunition, as well as evacuating the wounded and the fallen, is now often carried out using ground robotic systems.
Ukrinform correspondents followed one such evacuation mission conducted by the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Kosh Otaman Kost Hordiienko — in real time.
This report details how the operation was prepared and executed, focusing on soldiers who have “not grown weary” — neither since 2014 nor since 2024.
Interview
Ruslan Maryshev, Commander of the 95th Separate Polissia Air Assault Brigade
According to the General Staff data as of March 2, units of the Air Assault Forces have liberated nine settlements in the Oleksandrivske direction. The Ukrainian offensive continues, with key tasks carried out by the 95th Separate Polissia Air Assault Brigade among others.
A Ukrinform correspondent spoke with the brigade’s commander, Colonel Ruslan Maryshev, about the situation in this sector of the front, the enemy’s tactics, the prospects for further offensive operations, and his views on negotiations and territorial concessions, and how he envisions Ukraine’s victory.
Admiral Pierre Vandier, NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Transformation
Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine has become Europe’s greatest security challenge since the Cold War and a powerful catalyst for NATO’s transformation. The Alliance is rethinking high-intensity warfare, accelerating the adoption of innovations, and adapting its structures and doctrines to account for the role of new technologies – from drones to artificial intelligence.
Thanks to its successful resistance against the aggressor, Ukraine has gained unique combat experience that is already influencing allies’ decisions. NATO’s Allied Command Transformation and the NATO-Ukraine Joint Analysis, Training and Education Center (JATEC) play a particularly important role, integrating Ukrainian experience into NATO training, doctrines, and innovation.
In an interview with Ukrinform, Admiral Pierre Vandier, Supreme Allied Commander Transformation, spoke about how the war is changing the Alliance, the lessons NATO has learned, how transformation is strengthening support for Ukraine, and the role Ukraine will play in Europe’s future security.
Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Office of the President
The conversation with Deputy Head of the Office of the President Ihor Zhovkva took place immediately after a series of visits by the President of Ukraine to key European partners—Romania, France, the United Kingdom, and Spain. At the time of the interview, a European Council meeting was also underway in Brussels, with the unblocking of €90 billion in support and Ukraine’s EU accession among the items on the agenda. These developments set the framework for our discussion and defined its main themes.
Oleksandr Alfyorov, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance
Search operations have begun in the village of Uhly in Ukraine’s Rivne region to locate the remains of local residents from the World War II period. The work is being carried out by a mixed Ukrainian-Polish team, with initial results expected in the coming days.
The development has drawn significant public attention in both Ukraine and Poland, as it touches on a complex historical legacy that has long strained relations between Kyiv and Warsaw—and one that Moscow continues to exploit in an attempt to drive a wedge between the two nations.
In an interview with Ukrinform, Head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance Oleksandr Alfyorov assessed the current status of Ukrainian-Polish agreements on search and exhumation efforts, outlined Kyiv’s plans for cooperation with Polish counterparts, and highlighted steps and gestures that could further strengthen ties between the two countries’ remembrance institutions.
Vita Kovalenko, City Councillor of the Dutch city of Dordrecht
She has become one of the first Ukrainian women elected to a local council in the Netherlands.
Vita Kovalenko, a Ukrainian-born resident of the Netherlands for nearly two decades, has been elected to the city council of Dordrecht following local elections.
Representing D66—the party of current Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten—Kovalenko placed third in the vote, securing a seat on the council.
As a newly elected councillor, she plans to focus on integration, community support, and the development of Dordrecht, while also advocating for Ukraine and the Ukrainian community.
Her journey to public office—shaped by years of activism, efforts to counter Russian propaganda, and a strong sense of purpose—was the focus of her interview with an Ukrinform correspondent in The Hague immediately after the election results were announced.
Publications
Attrition vs. Precision Warfare: How Ukraine Is Disrupting Russia’s Spring Offensive
By spring 2026, Ukraine’s front line has evolved into more than a zone of active combat—it has become a large-scale laboratory of attrition. The final weeks of March present a seemingly paradoxical picture: despite an announced Russian offensive, Ukraine’s Defense Forces are not only holding their positions but are also conducting systematic counterattacks, regaining territory in both southern and eastern sectors.
According to official Ukrainian General Staff data, Russian losses have reached exceptionally high daily levels—1,610, 1,520, and 1,710 personnel on successive days. This raises key operational questions: where are the most intense engagements taking place? Why have small-unit tactics become central to battlefield success? And to what extent is Russia committing reserves for limited tactical gains?
Fact Checks
Russian propaganda spreads fake story about ‘flash mob’ of Ukrainians burning Hungarian flags
Russian propagandists are spreading a video bearing the logo of the American outlet Wired. It claims that Ukrainians allegedly launched a large-scale flash mob on TikTok, posting videos of Hungarian flags being set on fire. This is purportedly presented as a sign of support for President Volodymyr Zelensky in response to public criticism from Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
The video also cites French political scientist Christophe Jaffrelot, claiming he believes the alleged flash mob is driven solely by Ukrainians’ “hatred” of Hungarians, with Orban’s statements merely serving as a pretext to express it.
This is false. The video is fabricated. It has been assembled from various images and clips that can be found online. No such video exists on Wired’s official website or its social media accounts.
Christophe Jaffrelot has not made any such statements regarding Hungary or Ukraine. He is a specialist on India and works at the Center for International Studies at Sciences Po in Paris. The video segment in which Jaffrelot appears with the fake quote was taken from his February 27, 2025 interview with the Indian outlet The Wire. That interview concerns India’s domestic politics, not Ukraine or Hungary. Propagandists inserted a fabricated quote into the footage.
Ukrainians have not carried out any such flash mobs on TikTok. No corresponding videos could be found on the platform.
This fake news is aimed at discrediting Ukrainians and damaging Ukraine’s image on the international stage. Russian propaganda is using it to stir anti-Ukrainian sentiment in Hungary ahead of the parliamentary elections in April.
As reported earlier, Russian propaganda had previously spread a fake story about Ukraine’s ambassador and an alleged “insult” to the Hungarian flag.
Andriy Olenin
News:
War
95th Brigade commander: Enemy tactics unchanged in Oleksandrivka sector
Mayor of Mechelen comes under Russian fire during visit to Lviv
Russia stepping up attempts to gain foothold in Dnipro River island zone – military
Politics
German intelligence assesses Russian regime more critically than German government
Europe may face new threats from Russia even before its rearmament completes – expert
Ukraine’s role in Middle East war could boost its negotiating leverage – expert
German ex-spy warns conflict in Iran strengthens Putin’s position
Potential Trump-Lukashenko deal sparks new security concerns for Ukraine – expert
Ukrainian MP Poturaiev: No lawmakers seriously considering resignation
About 1,140 political prisoners remain in Belarus – Tikhanovsky
Economy
Business should be stimulated to cooperate with food banks – Shkrabatovskyi
Frontline Communities Association helps resolve business lending and insurance issues – Kim
Airfares likely to rise if Ukraine resumes flights during war – expert
Society
See you next Friday!