Situation Report on the Russo-Ukrainian War (2/27/22)

On February 24, 2022 at 0500 Eastern European Time (EET), the Russian Federation initiated hostilities with sovereign nation of Ukraine. The Russian Air Force (RAF), Russian Navy (RN), and Russian Ground Force (RGF) began their campaign by targeting Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) facilities, airfields, ports, ground installations, and air defense facilities. Since then, RGF and Russian Naval Infantry (RNI) have initiated ground and amphibious operations in the north, south, and east of Ukraine. With fighting raging on the outskirts of Kyiv and several major Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has initiated talks with the Russian Federation. President Zelenskyy has stated, however, that he has serious reservations regarding the possibility of a peaceful settlement to the current crisis.

As RGF and RNI formations continue offensive operations in Ukraine, the United States (US), European Union (EU), and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) have initiated a massive political and geoeconomic response. The multi-national coalition has cut four of Russia's largest financial institutions from the global market, severely limited technology exportation to the Russian Federation, and is beginning to target Moscow's crude oil and natural gas sector. Nearly all Russian assets within the United States and United Kingdom (UK) have been frozen, while EU and NATO members have pledged to decrease reliance on Russia's energy sector. Several NATO members, including the US, UK, Poland, and Germany, have begun to supply Ukrainian forces with ammunition, protective equipment, and weapon platforms.

Operational Situation

On the Northern Front, the Russian Ground Force has renewed its offensive toward Kyiv, with significant drives being launched around Kharkiv, Chernihiv, and Sumy. While large, conventional Russian formations that advanced through Belarus remain engaged on the outskirts of Kyiv, they have been unable to achieve a breakthrough to the heart of the city. Russian special mission units and special operation elements continue to conduct irregular warfare operations in and around the capital.

On the Eastern Front, the situation has remained relatively stable. Fighting over the course of the past ten hours has increased in ferocity, as Russia appears to attempt to connect the Southern Front to the Eastern Front.

On the Southern Front, Russian Ground Force and Russian Naval Infantry elements have captured several important targets, including Melitopol and the Pivnichno-Kryms'kyi Channel. The Russian Federation is seeking to capture Mariupol in the coming days, although previous advances have been stalled due to organizational and logistical halts. Despite numerous Russian drives into the city, the Ukrainian Army continues to hold Kherson, as its fall would threaten the strategically located city of Odessa. RGF and RNI units have partially bypassed Kherson by fording the Dnieper River, enabling them to advance directly on Mykolayiv. As of 1930 EET, small unit fighting is ongoing in the outskirts of the city.