ISW Confirms Russia's Spring-Summer 2026 Offensive Underway; 134 Engagements Mar 23

ISW assessed on March 22 that Russia has likely begun its anticipated spring-summer 2026 offensive against Ukraine's Fortress Belt in Donetsk Oblast. On March 23 (Day 1,489), Ukrainian forces recorded 134 combat engagements. Russia carried out 67 airstrikes dropping 285 guided aerial bombs and deployed 9,266 kamikaze drones. Russian losses: ~970 soldiers killed or wounded in 24 hours. ISW noted Russia is unlikely to seize the Fortress Belt in 2026 and that any gains will come at significant cost. Russian forces are pushing toward Sloviansk, the northern tip of the 50-km fortified Fortress Belt chain from Sloviansk through Kramatorsk to Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka.