Nicole Wolkov, Grace Mappes, Kateryna Stepanenko, Riley Bailey, and George Barros
Chechen officials organized a march in Grozny, Chechnya, on March 10 in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s candidacy in the upcoming March presidential election. Russian state media outlet TASS reported that more than 150,000 Chechens attended the march in Grozny and that Chechen Republic Head Ramzan Kadyrov’s eldest child, Chechen Presidential Administration First Deputy Head Khadizhat Kadyrova, organized the march.[18] Russian opposition outlet SOTA amplified a claim on March 9 that the Chechen State University and Grozny State Petroleum Technical University instructed its employees and students to attend the election march on March 10.[19] Kadyrov praised the rally on March 10, emphasizing the importance of the election for the Russian state and praising Putin by name.[20] Kadyrov claimed that many prominent Chechen politicians and voices attended the march but did not mention Kadyrova by name.[21] Chechen National Policy Minister Akhmed Dudayev stated that the march “reflects that we [Chechnya] are one united team of our first President, Hero of Russia Akhmat-Khadzhi Kadyrov.”[22] This election march likely supports Kadyrov’s ongoing effort to balance appealing to his Chechen constituency while courting Putin’s favor.[23]
Key Takeaways:
- A Ukrainian military official confirmed that Russian forces are conducting strikes in Ukraine with improved guided glide bombs.
- Russian sources reported that the Russian military command has replaced Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov with Northern Fleet Commander Admiral Alexander Moiseev as Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy.
- Russian occupation authorities opened early voting in occupied Ukraine for Russia’s presidential election on March 10 that will last until March 14.
- Chechen officials organized a march in Grozny, Chechnya, on March 10 in support of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s candidacy in the upcoming March presidential election.
- Over 1,000 civilian ships have transited Ukraine’s “grain corridor” in the Black Sea despite persistent Russian efforts to undermine international confidence in the corridor.
- The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) awarded a state honor to a prominent Russian ultranationalist — who is an active supporter of imprisoned former officer and ardent ultranationalist Igor Girkin — likely as part of an ongoing Kremlin campaign to coopt the critical milblogger community.
- Russian forces recently made confirmed advances near Bakhmut and Avdiivka amid continued positional engagements along the entire frontline on March 10.
- Prominent Russian ultranationalists praised Russian volunteers and mobilized personnel on March 10, likely to assuage continued concerns among these personnel in spite of their improper and inequal treatment in the Russian military.
- Russian Main Effort – Eastern Ukraine (comprised of two subordinate main efforts)
- Russian Subordinate Main Effort #1 – Capture the remainder of Luhansk Oblast and push westward into eastern Kharkiv Oblast and encircle northern Donetsk Oblast
- Russian Subordinate Main Effort #2 – Capture the entirety of Donetsk Oblast
- Russian Supporting Effort – Southern Axis
- Russian Air, Missile, and Drone Campaign
- Russian Mobilization and Force Generation Efforts
- Russian Technological Adaptations
- Activities in Russian-occupied areas
- Ukrainian Defense Industrial Base Efforts
- Russian Information Operations and Narratives
- Significant Activity in Belarus
Positional engagements continued northeast of Kupyansk and near Kreminna on March 10, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline. Positional engagements continued northeast of Kupyansk near Synkivka, west of Kreminna near Yampolivka and Terny, and south of Kreminna near Bilohorivka (12km south of Kreminna).[34]
Russian forces recently marginally advanced west of Bakhmut. Geolocated footage published on March 10 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced in eastern Ivanivske (west of Bakhmut).[38] Some Russian milbloggers claimed that Russian forces control 80 percent of Ivanivske and made marginal advances near Druzhba (southwest of Bakhmut) and within Bohdanivka (northwest of Bakhmut), but ISW had not observed confirmation for these claims.[39] Positional battles continued near Bohdanivka; west of Bakhmut near Ivanivske and east of Chasiv Yar; and southwest of Bakhmut near Klishchiivka, Andriivka, Kurdyumivka, Druzhba, and Shumy.[40] A Russian milblogger claimed that elements of the Russian 11th Separate Guards Air Assault (VDV) Brigade and 68th Tank Regiment and 102nd Motorized Rifle Regiment (both part of 150th Motorized Rifle Division, 8th Guards Combined Arms Army [CAA] Southern Military District [SMD]) are fighting in Ivanivske.[41] Elements of the Russian “Sever-V” Reconnaissance and Assault Brigade (Russian Volunteer Corps) are reportedly supporting Russian assaults on Bohdanivka; elements of the Russian 98th Guards VDV Division are reportedly operating in the Bakhmut direction; and elements of the 132nd Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st Donetsk People's Republic [DNR] AC) are operating near Toretsk (southwest of Bakhmut).[42]
Russian forces recently marginally advanced northwest of Avdiivka near Berdychi and west of Avdiivka in Orlivka. Geolocated footage published on March 9 and March 10 indicates that Russian forces recently advanced south of Berdychi and in western Orlivka.[43] Positional battles continued near Berdychi; west of Avdiivka near Orlivka and Tonenke; and southwest of Avdiikka near Pervomaiske, Sieverne, and Nevelske.[44] Elements of the Russian 24th Guards Spetsnaz Brigade (General Staff’s Main Intelligence Directorate [GRU]) are reportedly operating near Berdychi.[45] Elements of the 1st “Slavic” Motorized Rifle Brigade (1st DNR AC) are reportedly operating in the Avdiivka direction.[46]
Russian and Ukrainian forces engaged in positional battles west of Donetsk City near Krasnohorivka and Heorhiivka and southwest of Donetsk City near Novomykhailivka and Pobieda.[47] A Russian milblogger claimed that Su-34 fighter jet pilots of the Russian 11th Air and Air Defense Forces Army (Russian Aerospace Forces [VKS] of the Eastern Military District [EMD]) continue to launch air strikes in the southern Donetsk direction using FAB-500 unguided glide bombs.[48] Elements of the Russian 238th Artillery Brigade (8th CAA, SMD) reportedly continue operating near Krasnohorivka, and elements of the Russian 39th Motorized Rifle Brigade (68th AC, EMD) are reportedly operating near Novomykhailivka.[49]
Positional battles occurred southwest of Velyka Novosilka near Novodarivka and Levadne in the Donetsk-Zaporizhia Oblast border area on March 10.[52]
Positional fighting continued in western Zaporizhia Oblast on March 10, but there were no confirmed changes to the frontline in this area. Positional fighting continued near Robotyne and Verbove (east of Robotyne).[53] Russian milbloggers claimed that Ukrainian forces are preparing for tactical counterattacks near Robotyne.[54] Ukrainian Tavriisk Group of Forces Spokesperson Dmytro Lykhovyi stated on March 9 that Russian forces are increasingly relying on off-road “buggies” and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) to transport Russian infantry near Robotyne because Ukrainian forces are destroying standard Russian military vehicles.[55] Russian forces may be experimenting with using such light unarmored vehicles due to their availability over Russian military vehicles that Ukrainian forces can readily destroy, and/or because such light vehicles are smaller than and have greater speed and mobility over standard military vehicles, making them more difficult for Ukrainian forces to target. Elements of the Russian 7th Airborne (VDV) Division and the 1st Battalion of the 429th Motorized Rifle Regiment (19th Motorized Rifle Division, 58th Combined Arms Army [CAA], Southern Military District [SMD]) reportedly continue operating in the Zaporizhia direction, and elements of the 70th Motorized Rifle Regiment (42nd Motorized Rifle Division, 58th CAA, SMD) are reportedly operating near Robotyne.[56]
Ukrainian and Russian sources stated that Ukrainian forces maintain positions in east (left) bank Kherson Oblast near Krynky as of March 10.[57] Ukraine’s Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces did not conduct combat operations for the second consecutive day on March 10 and instead focused on conducting aerial reconnaissance, artillery fire, and drone operations.[58]
Note: ISW will be publishing coverage of activities in Russian-occupied areas twice a week in the Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment. ISW will continue to track activities in Russian-occupied areas daily and will refer to these activities in assessments within the daily Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment and other ISW products when necessary.
Note: ISW does not receive any classified material from any source, uses only publicly available information, and draws extensively on Russian, Ukrainian, and Western reporting and social media as well as commercially available satellite imagery and other geospatial data as the basis for these reports. References to all sources used are provided in the endnotes of each update.
[1] https://armyinform.com dot ua/2024/03/10/rosiyany-zavdaly-udaru-po-myrnogradu-novymy-aviabombamy/
[2] https://www.aljazeera dot com/news/2024/1/11/russia-doubles-down-on-fast-cheap-unguided-bombs-to-strike-ukraine
[3] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-9-2024 ; https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/11/russia-doubles-down-on-fast-cheap-unguided-bombs-to-strike-ukraine
[4] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8132
[5] https://t.me/sashakots/45443 ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/115922 ; https://t.me/voin_dv/7454
[6] https://www.mk dot ru/politics/2024/03/09/vragi-ocenili-rossiyskaya-armiya-primenila-na-ukraine-novuyu-chudobombu.html
[7] https://t.me/sashakots/45443 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8132
[8] https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8132 ; https://t.me/basurin_e/9619
[9] https://t.me/sashakots/45443 ; https://t.me/rybar/58014 ;
[10] https://ura dot news/news/1052741735 ; https://www.fontanka dot ru/2024/03/10/73317530/
[11] https://t.me/wargonzo/18657 ; https://t.me/milinfolive/118008 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/36271
[12] https://isw.pub/UkrWar021524
[13] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russia%E2%80%99s-military-restructuring-and-expansion-hindered-ukraine-war; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-26-2024
[14] https://tass dot ru/politika/20194213
[15] https://t.me/luhanskaVTSA/17505
[16] https://t.me/luhanskaVTSA/17505 ; https://t.me/ivan_fedorov_zp/5303
[17] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-11-2023 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-february-8-2024 ; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-24-2024
[18] https://tass dot ru/politika/20195133; https://t.me/tass_agency/235707
[19] https://t.me/sotaproject/76424
[20] https://t.me/RKadyrov_95/4580
[21] https://t.me/RKadyrov_95/4580
[22] https://tass dot ru/politika/20195133
[23] https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Oct%2025%20Russian%20Offensive%20Campaign%20Assessment%20PDF.pdf
[24] https://twitter.com/USAmbKyiv/status/1766476595118653949
[25] https://isw.pub/UkrWar091623 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar081623
[26] https://isw.pub/UkrWar071923 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar110923 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar102623 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar081823 ; https://isw.pub/UkrWar081623
[27] https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/21079; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/115966
[28] https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/21066; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/21001; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/20836; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/20077
[29] https://t.me/RDS_Official_channel/293; https://t.me/RDS_Official_channel/536; https://t.me/RDS_Official_channel/145 ; https://t.me/KRPRus/83
[30] https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/7353; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/7361; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/7362; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/10187; https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/13241
[31] https://t.me/ghost_of_novorossia/13193
[32] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-20; https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=006703778745328820552:rmncc-_xykg&q=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-16-2023&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwje0KLyxuqEAxWZF1kFHds1BlkQFnoECAUQAg&usg=AOvVaw3IuF8HXRmV_UYlcQYVGi2U; https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=006703778745328820552:rmncc-_xykg&q=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-january-9-2023&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwje0KLyxuqEAxWZF1kFHds1BlkQFnoECAQQAg&usg=AOvVaw15OpyzyMD-KOLA7DCK27kb; https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&cx=006703778745328820552:rmncc-_xykg&q=https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-december-27&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwje0KLyxuqEAxWZF1kFHds1BlkQFnoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw13m8Hgn8nymAR_Pap6IUHc
[33] https://www.understandingwar.org/sites/default/files/Russian%20Offensive%20Campaign%20Assessment%2C%20March%204%2C%202024%20PDF.pdf; https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-november-16-2023
[34] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl ; https://t.me/mod_russia/36478 ; https://t.me/mod_russia/36474 ; https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033 ; https://t.me/wargonzo/18648 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8127
[35] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63403
[36] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://t.me/mod_russia/36478
[37] https://t.me/sons_fatherland/13177
[38] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/4712; https://t.me/brigada92_war/1361
[39] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63403; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8110; https://t.me/wargonzo/18648
[40] https://t.me/mod_russia/36476; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://t.me/mod_russia/36478; https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63406 ; . https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63403;https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033
[41] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63403
[42] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63406 (Bohdanivka); https://t.me/rusich_army/13553 (Bakhmut direction); . https://t.me/nm_dnr/11946 (Toretsk)
[43] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/4710; https://t.me/lumieregroup/89; https://t.me/BUAR110ombr/274 ; https://x.com/klinger66/status/1766863167898935490?s=20 ; https://x.com/EjShahid/status/1766842368873898365?s=20; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1766544702826844373 ; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1766546264110387403 ; https://t.me/lumieregroup/89
[44] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://t.me/mod_russia/36478; https://t.me/mod_russia/36476; https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033; https://t.me/wargonzo/18648; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8125;
[45] https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63433; https://t.me/grey_zone/22310 ; https://t.me/boris_rozhin/115968 ; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8134
[46] https://t.me/boris_rozhin/115934
[47] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033; https://t.me/wargonzo/18648
[48] https://t.me/voin_dv/7447
[49] https://t.me/voin_dv/7453 (Novomykhailivka); https://t.me/RVvoenkor/63428 ; https://t.me/nm_dnr/11945 (Krasnohorivka)
[50] https://t.me/creamy_caprice/4715; https://t.me/br58ua/338
[51] https://t.me/voin_dv/7459 (Vuhledar)
[52] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl
[53] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl
[54] https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033; https://t.me/wargonzo/18648
[55] https://armyinform.com dot ua/2024/03/09/u-sylah-oborony-poyasnyly-chomu-rosiyany-shturmuyut-robotyne-na-bagi-ta-golf-karah/
[56] https://t.me/mod_russia/36469; https://t.me/DnevnikDesantnika/8129; https://t.me/dva_majors/36257 (Zaporizhia direction); https://t.me/boris_rozhin/115931 (Robotyne)
[57] https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0sYjmgzSDYaZ47ViGoDHA45YGLfAtzHGP8yRhdjiwZPbQui4T9qXSxbnwMKsHQrrgl; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0cvcTPqXMz5AuaLt6MuN1davS8GYep98VudrEeuZ8NRvU7g2xtMqKesiuoLqRNyNsl ; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid0BoRQde6WkUxgyXeecuHxQqhAvcozPHD54gJNsZEM8DvZR4HYhGpFYJNuEoUJu5tzl; https://t.me/SALDO_VGA/2457; https://t.me/dva_majors/36235 ; https://t.me/rybar/58033
[58] https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/7018 ; https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/7023 ; https://t.me/SJTF_Odes/7020
[59] https://t.me/kpszsu/11672; https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/posts/pfbid02TBfegDP46fSX6deSPUsphbNbrKKG8fRoVUhJAYenLyVdaTmEumz2ETgKSrvBggb6l; https://t.me/MykolaOleshchuk/223
[60] https://t.me/Ukrenergo/2684
[61] https://t.me/odeskaODA/4394
[62] https://t.me/aleksandr_skif/3117
[63] https://t.me/Sladkov_plus/9975
[64] https://t.me/gubernator_46/5082 ; https://t.me/sotaproject/76428
[65] https://t.me/gubernator_46/5082 ; https://t.me/sotaproject/76428
[66] https://isw.pub/UkrWar120622
[67] https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-23-2023
[68] https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1766510079673524649/photo/2; https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1766510079673524649/photo/1
[69] https://twitter.com/666_mancer/status/1766510079673524649/photo/1
[70] https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/10/europe/russian-guided-bomb-ukraine-frontline-intl/index.html
[71] https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/10/europe/russian-guided-bomb-ukraine-frontline-intl/index.html
[72] /https://www.bild dot de/politik/ausland/politik-ausland/sie-ist-schwer-wie-ein-auto-putins-monster-bombe-kann-jetzt-fliegen-87436140.bild
[73] https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/10/europe/russian-guided-bomb-ukraine-frontline-intl/index.html
[74] https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/10/europe/russian-guided-bomb-ukraine-frontline-intl/index.html
[75] https://t.me/rybar/58038 ; https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/moldova-signs-defence-pact-with-france-amid-russia-fears-2024-03-07/
[76] https://understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-7-2024