Russia is expending air defense missiles faster than it can produce them, forcing the Kremlin to prioritize which strategic targets to defend, according to Gert Kaju, head of the Defense Readiness Department at the Estonian Ministry of Defense.

Combat activity in Ukraine has slightly decreased, with an average of 133 engagements per day last week. Weather conditions and the spring thaw have made it harder for troops to maneuver and take cover, enhancing the impact of drone operations, Kaju said.

The most intense ground clashes continue in Donetsk Oblast near Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka and in Zaporizhzhia Oblast toward Huliaipole. Both sides have achieved localized gains, but overall, front lines remain largely unchanged. Ukraine has regained nearly all previously occupied areas in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, leaving only five settlements under Russian control.

Air and Missile Strikes Escalate

Both sides continue long-range precision attacks. Last week, Russia launched more than 1,300 drones and roughly 30 missiles, with the heaviest strike on March 7 targeting civilian, energy, and transport infrastructure across more than ten regions. Nearly 1,900 buildings in Kyiv were left without heat.

Ukraine has retaliated with strikes on Russian military-industrial facilities, including a microelectronics factory in Bryansk Oblast, successfully halting operations at a key production unit supplying semiconductors and microchips to the Russian military.

Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Russia has lost over 1.3 million personnel, with more than 60% of casualties being deaths, a stark increase over typical wartime ratios. Russia has restricted social media to control criticism and increased recruitment efforts, including targeting university students.

Beyond the front lines, Ukraine has deployed air defense specialists to the Persian Gulf, supporting U.S. bases in Jordan and reinforcing defenses in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, Russia continues its anti-Western narrative, accusing the U.S. and Israel of pushing Arab states toward conflict and exaggerating its battlefield successes.