Strelkov Igor Ivanovich, [03/02/2022 08.05]
The situation at the front as of the morning of March 2

Southern front (Nikolaev - Zaporozhye).
On the left flank, as expected (see yesterday's report), the purge of Kherson, begun yesterday, continues. The city was taken under control without serious fighting, although fragmentary materials from the site indicate that the armed resistance of the so-called. "terodefense" took place, but was quickly and effectively suppressed with heavy losses for its composition. With regard to the situation near Nikolayev, no information was received. In all likelihood, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation did not take any active actions against the city itself, continuing, nevertheless, to expand the zone of control to the north and northeast of the city. including - in the direction of Krivoy Rog. I have no data on the advance Russian units reaching the outskirts of the city of Voznesensk. But the direction of such an advance - along the course of the Southern Bug River - is quite logical. Perhaps we are talking about active reconnaissance by mobile groups. Moreover, the "respectable Kiev partners" not only do not have an organized front in this direction - they do not even have disparate units capable of at least a "dotted line" depicting its presence.
Unfortunately, the number of Russian troops also does not allow advancing here at the pace that could be afforded with their sufficient numbers.
Also (expectedly) there is no information about any hostilities along the lower reaches of the Dnieper.
The situation on the right flank - near Zaporozhye - remains unclear. So far I have no information about the advance of Russian troops in this direction. I assume that the main forces were previously sent to break through to Mariupol, which ended yesterday with a complete encirclement within the almost city limits and the occupation of Volnovakha itself without a serious battle (contrary to my forecast that the Ukrainians would stubbornly defend this most important railway junction for some time).
From the point of view of the expediency of choosing this particular direction for the development of the offensive, I will allow myself to express doubts about the correctness of the decision. Since Mariupol and Volnovakha, remaining in the "operational shadow" of the advance of Russian troops in Zaporozhye and in the rear of the main grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Donbass, did not represent significant strategic value compared to the possibilities of encircling the entire Donetsk grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, control over Volnovakha will certainly make it possible to significantly improve the supply and replenishment of the Southern Group of the RF Armed Forces through direct communication with the Rostov Region. However, the rapid withdrawal of the enemy from Volnovakha should be assessed precisely as the fact that the enemy saves his regular units for future battles.

Suggestions (if anyone is interested):
DO NOT STORM Mariupol. Do not lose people and equipment there in heavy street battles, and most importantly - time. Leave him "alone" for a while, tightly blocking and directing all the forces not involved in the blockade to try to envelop the enemy behind his now open right flank - in his near rear in a general direction (very roughly - depending on the tactical situation) to Pologi- Walk-Pole.

Donetsk front. With the exception of the southern and northern flanks, it maintained a static position. The main forces of the Armed Forces of the DPR and LPR were attacking on the flanks, the military of Novorossia did not have the forces to attack the heavily fortified positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Donetsk, Gorlovka and Debaltseve. The enemy actively used this, "watering" the positions and cities with all the calibers at his disposal (since the shells will still have to be thrown at the inevitable retreat, and it's not a fact that the artillery and military equipment itself will be able to be withdrawn). At the same time, Russian aviation began to punish the enemy in this direction, striking at his columns and artillery positions. In retaliation, the enemy unsuccessfully fired at the forward military airfield near Taganrog with Tochka-U.
On the northern flank, fighting continued near Severodonetsk and the withdrawal of enemy troops to the west and northwest.
Apparently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine intend to keep the Severodonetsk-Lysichansk junction as long as possible.