"Tempered optimism" - Zelenskyy's Office on current hotspots in Ukraine
Russian troops have advanced in Enerhodar in the Zaporizhia Region, and near the town of Voznesensk in the Mykolaiv Region, but in general Ukrainian forces maintain control of the situation.
Source: adviser to the head of the Office of the President Oleksiy Arestovych, on TV
Quote: "The situation remains under control. Yesterday (3 March), the Russian invading forces, after replenishing their reserves and rear supplies, began to move in certain directions.
They achieved their greatest success in the town of Enerhodar and partially established control over the Zaporizhzhya NPP.
They managed to advance close to the town of Voznesensk, roughly in the direction from Mykolaiv to Kryvyi Rih. Our forces have stopped them there, and a battle is now under way. Attempts by invading forces to close in on Mykolaiv have been repulsed."
Details: One of the hot spots is northwest of Kiev, there is active fighting there now. According to Arestovych, ground units, air power and artillery are stopping the Russian forces.
The cities of Kharkiv and Okhtyrka are under a crushing blow, but defences are holding out.
In Okhtyrka there was an attempt to destroy the thermal power plant by air.
"However, the Russian forces there [Kharkiv and Okhtyrka] are taking huge losses and mobilising additional reserves, which could have been used in more dangerous directions. For example, in the Kyiv region. The heroic defence of Okhtyrka and Kharkiv has forced the enemy to stop their movement toward the development of the main strike," said Arestovich.
The city of Chernigov has withstood a powerful air strike and is holding on. The enemy is not advancing in that direction.
Mariupol is under a partial siege, but the situation is under control. The military forces stationed in the city are fighting off Russian attempts to finally surround the city.
The humanitarian situation there is tense– this has been the subject of negotiations with representatives of Russia and Belarus, as well as partner countries and international organisations.
Odesa is not in immediate danger. The leadership and the military are in control of the situation. "Many attempts by enemy ships to fire are suppressed by our artillery," Arestovych said.
"Yesterday, we executed several powerful strikes against the enemy, which stopped their movements in other directions. I think we can be cautiously optimistic about the prospects of a further offensive," he said.
