Ukrainian Forces Regain Control in Oleksandrivka Sector, Destroying Over 2,600 Russian Soldiers in Two Months
Ukrainian forces have successfully liberated nine settlements in the Oleksandrivka front sector and eliminated 2,653 Russian soldiers during an operation lasting approximately two months, as reported by the Ukrainian Airborne Command on March 26.
Updated: April 3, 2026, 19:17. Ukrainian forces have reclaimed control over nine populated areas in the Oleksandrivka front sector and have reportedly destroyed 2,653 Russian soldiers during a military operation that spanned nearly two months, according to a statement from the Ukrainian Airborne Command on March 26.
The Ukrainian counteroffensive commenced at the end of January in the Oleksandrivka sector, located in the southeast where the Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions converge. Throughout the operation, Ukrainian forces regained control over approximately 440 square kilometers (170 square miles) of territory, liberating seven settlements in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast and two in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the report indicated.
Additionally, three more settlements were cleared of Russian military presence, although their specific locations were not disclosed. The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated on March 27 that Ukrainian forces have liberated around 470 square kilometers (180 square miles) of territory and inflicted losses of over 11,000 Russian soldiers since the counteroffensive began. The area reclaimed is roughly equivalent to the size of Denver, Colorado, in the United States.
"We continue to relentlessly reclaim Ukrainian territory from the invaders, thanks to the courage and unconventional tactics of our soldiers," Syrskyi wrote in a Facebook post following a working trip to the southern front.
The Ukrainian Airborne Command reported on March 26 that "full control" has been restored over the village of Berezove in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. However, the distinction between liberation, clearance, and the establishment of full control was not explained.
Since the counteroffensive began on January 29, Russian forces have reportedly lost 3,676 personnel in the sector, including 2,653 killed, 1,023 wounded, and 11 captured, according to the command.
However, Emil Kastehelmi, a military analyst from the Finnish group Black Bird, expressed caution regarding this report, noting that the statement about approximately 400 square kilometers has been reiterated multiple times over the past few weeks.
"Overall, it seems that momentum has been lost. It does not appear that the Ukrainians have made significant progress following what they achieved in February and early March," he added.
Kastehelmi also pointed out that determining the situation in the gray zone on the front is challenging, and it remains unclear who truly controls these territories.
"It may be safer to say that the Russians do not fully control this territory now, even if it has been at least partially in their rear for over two months," he stated.
This news comes amid reports that Ukraine is strengthening its positions on the battlefield. Kyiv claims that in February, Ukrainian forces liberated more territory than they lost for the first time in many years, disrupting Russia's plans for an offensive in March.
At the same time, Russian forces continue to attempt to advance across several areas of the Ukrainian front. Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated that from March 17 to 20, Russia launched an offensive involving "tens of thousands of soldiers," resulting in over 6,000 fatalities.
Most of the attacks occurred in eastern Ukraine, particularly in the Pokrovsk sector of Donetsk Oblast and in the Oleksandrivka area, Syrskyi added.
Syrskyi also noted that Moscow is attempting to deploy new units and hopes for worsening weather conditions to limit the effectiveness of Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance, drones, and artillery.