Ukrainian forces push into Belgorod: A tense standoff unfolds

Official information is scarce. On 18 March, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported on an attempt by Ukrainian units to advance towards the villages of Demidovka and Prilissia. According to Russian authorities, the attack was carried out by about 200 Ukrainian soldiers. However, the Russians claim they repelled this attack.

Nonetheless, the situation in the region remains unstable. The governor of the Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, announced the evacuation of residents from border areas, describing the situation as "very difficult".

Military analysts indicate that the Ukrainian army continues operations in the region, fighting for control over two Russian localities. Experts from the Ukrainian portal DeepState report that Russian territory's "grey zone" covers about 13 square kilometres.

"The enemy is attempting to break the border in the Sumy region (around Basivka and Volodymyrivka) to establish a buffer zone. Therefore, the Ukrainian Defence Forces are acting symmetrically, to prevent the initiative from shifting to the opponent's side," the portal conveyed on Telegram.

The Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian forces have entered the village of Demidovka, confirmed by geolocation recordings, as cited by the BBC.

The Ukrainian offensive aims to reduce Russian forces' pressure on Ukrainian positions in the neighbouring Kursk region. Analyst Kostiantyn Mashovets, in an interview with BBC News, notes that the Russian command is transferring additional forces to the Belgorod region, which may weaken their positions in other areas.

BBC News highlights that Ukrainian forces are mainly operating with artillery and drones, attacking Russian logistics and infrastructure.