At the front, positional battles continue in the Kupyansk direction and near Kreminnaya, and near the border of Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions. The defense forces have made some progress in the Bakhmut direction and are holding positions on the left bank of the Kherson region.
What is known about the situation in the Donetsk direction
Ukrainian forces have recently advanced a little to the southwest of Bakhmut.
Geolocated footage released on February 3 shows elements of the Russian Invaders' 85th Separate Motorized Brigade striking SAF fighters operating in a wooded area east of Klishchiivka (southwest of Bakhmut), which ISW had previously estimated was under under the control of the occupiers, which "indicates that Ukrainian troops have recently regained their positions in this area."
A Russian source claimed that Russian troops advanced along an unspecified road in the direction of Ivanivskyi (west of Bakhmut) and allegedly captured new heights to the north and northwest of Klishchiivka, while the Armed Forces of Ukraine recaptured several positions north of Bohdanivka (northwest of Bakhmut).
At the same time, ISW experts did not find visual evidence to support these claims.
Positional battles continued near Bohdanivka, Klishchiivka and in the Ivanovo direction. The spokesman of the Eastern Group of Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Captain Ilya Yevlash, said that the Russian military command is transferring reserves to the Bakhmut direction to break through the Ukrainian defense lines west of Bakhmut in the direction of Chasiv Yar.
Russian sources claimed on February 2 and 3 that Russian troops advanced north, south and southwest of Avdiyivka, but ISW experts observed no visual evidence of this.
Russian "militants" claimed that Russian troops advanced 1.5 kilometers along the sand pit on the northern outskirts of Avdiivka and one kilometer near Opytny (southwest of Avdiivka).
Russian sources also claimed that Russian troops allegedly advanced east of the Tsarska Okhota restaurant (south of Avdiivka) and up to 600 meters near Stepovoy (northwest of Avdiivka).
Positional battles continued near Stepovoy and in the horticulture north of Avdiivka; to the south-west of Avdiivka near Pervomaiskyi and Nevelskyi; and on the southeastern outskirts of Avdiivka.
Ukrainian journalist Yuriy Butusov noted that the Russian grouping of troops around Avdiyivka consists of 6 brigades, 7 regiments and 3 units of special purpose and special forces.
On February 3, positional fighting continued to the west and southwest of Donetsk, but there were no confirmed changes on the front line. Positional fighting continued west of Donetsk in the Krasnohorivka and Georgiivka areas and southwest of Donetsk in the Novomykhailivka area.
Russian sources claimed that units of the Russian 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment allegedly captured a ZSU position near Novomykhailivka, although ISW did not observe visual evidence of this.
