Russian Forces Report Advances in 12 Ukrainian Settlements Amid Ongoing Fighting

Russian General Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces have taken control of 12 settlements in Ukraine during the first two weeks of March, advancing on multiple fronts including near Sloviansk, Kostiantynivka, and in the Zaporizhzhia region. He described ongoing street battles and efforts to establish buffer zones. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy acknowledged continued Russian assaults but said their intensity and scale were less than expected, highlighting Ukrainian defensive successes.