Russia-Ukraine war: Frontline update as of February 21
Destroyed Russian MLRS Tosochka in Ukraine (Archive photo: x.com/aloha9916)
The number of battles on the front line has slightly decreased, with 80 combat engagements recorded from the morning of February 21 to the evening, compared to 112 the previous day. The Pokrovsk direction remains the most intense, where Russian forces are suffering significant losses, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russian shelling
Russian forces carried out one missile strike and 43 airstrikes against Ukrainian Defense Forces and civilian areas, using two missiles and 53 guided aerial bombs (KAB).
Additionally, the enemy launched 1,128 kamikaze drone attacks and conducted over 4,000 shelling incidents with various types of weaponry, according to the military command's operational update as of 22:00 on February 21.
Frontline situation
In the Kharkiv direction, Ukrainian forces repelled one Russian assault near Vovchansk, with another battle still ongoing. The enemy also carried out an airstrike on the settlement of Zolochiv.
In the Kupiansk direction, the Russian army made five attempts to push Ukrainian units from their positions near Zahrizove, with one battle still in progress.
In the Lyman direction, the enemy launched seven attacks, attempting to advance near the settlements of Kopanky, Novolyubivka, Terny, Yampilivka, and Kolodyazi. Two combat engagements are still ongoing. Russian aviation carried out airstrikes on the settlement of Borova.
In the Kramatorsk direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three enemy attempts to advance near the settlement of Vasyukivka. The towns of Chasiv Yar and Kostiantynivka were hit by Russian airstrikes.
In the Toretsk direction, the Russians attempted to breach Ukrainian defenses nine times. Ukrainian forces successfully repelled two enemy assaults near Toretsk and Dilyiivka, while seven attacks are still ongoing.
The General Staff reported that the enemy was actively attacking in the Pokrovsk direction, where Ukrainian defenders repelled 29 enemy assaults and offensive operations throughout the day.
Military sources reported that the highest enemy activity was observed in the areas of Vodiane Druhe, Yelyzavetivka, Svyrydonivka, Promin, Pishchane, Serhiivka, Andriivka, Ulaky, Udachne, Nadiivka, and Molodetske. Airstrikes targeted the settlements of Hrodivka, Lysivka, Myrnohrad, and Novooleksandrivka.
"According to the current information, the enemy losses on this front today amounted to 245 personnel, of which 101 were irretrievable," the General Staff reported.
Additionally, military command noted that 7 vehicles, a cannon, an armored vehicle, a BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket system, and 2 motorcycles were destroyed.
"Moreover, a tank, a heavy flamethrower system TOS-2 Tosochka, a cannon, and a vehicle of the occupiers were damaged," the Ukrainian Defense Forces added.
In the Novopavlivsk direction, the Ukrainian Armed Forces repelled 5 enemy assaults as the Russian forces tried to break through Ukrainian defensive lines near Kostiantynopil and Burlatske.
In the Hulyaipilske direction, the settlements of Novopil and Hulyaipole were hit by enemy airstrikes with unguided rockets.
In the Orikhiv direction, 3 enemy attacks are ongoing near the settlements of Shcherbaky and Pyatykhatky.
In the Kursk direction, 14 battles took place. The enemy also launched 17 airstrikes (24 KAB) and conducted 368 artillery bombardments (including 3 from MLRS).
In the Siversk and Prydniprovskyi directions, the Russian forces did not carry out offensive operations.
In mid-February, OSINT analysts reported that Ukrainian defenders destroyed a rare Russian MLRS system, the Tosochka, for the first time. This also occurred in the Pokrovsk direction. The system in question is the 220mm heavy flame-thrower system, ТОС-2 Tosochka, which is an advanced version of the heavy flame-thrower systems like ТОС-1 Buratino and ТОС-1А Solntsepyok.
Additionally, on the evening of February 21, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in his address that the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold key positions on the frontlines.
