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Russo-Ukraine War - 19 February 2024 - Day 726

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that public figures in Russia continue to face substantial pressure to display overt support for the war in Ukraine. This week, it was reported that Russian pop star Filipp Kirkorov performed and visited wounded soldiers in occupied Ukraine. Kirkorov had reportedly been 'blacklisted' by the Kremlin following public scandal over a December 'nearly naked' party in Moscow.

Meduza reported that, in early February, a renewed 'blacklist' of 50 artists had been circulated by the Presidential Administration to Russian concert promoters, effectively banning them from performing in Russia. This list included public opponents of the war alongside others - such as Kirkorov - who had provoked the ire of the Kremlin for other reasons.

The aftermath of the 'nearly naked' party scandal demonstrates the increasingly pervasive presence of the war in public life. The Kremlin almost certainly intentionally amplified and exploited the scandal, seeking to portray a contrast between Russians 'patriotically' supporting the war effort and a hedonistic 'Westernised' metropolitan elite. One attendee was jailed, fined under so-called 'LGBT propaganda' laws, and served with a summons to a military conscription office.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 19, there were 70x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 52x air strikes, carried out 72x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.
Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in killed and wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings as well as critical infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bohdanivka (Chernihiv oblast) and Bobylivka (Sumy oblast). More than 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Sen'kivka (Chernihiv oblast), Katerynivka, Taratutyne, Yizdets'ke, Luhivka, Velyka Pysarivka (Sumy oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted made 3x unsuccessful assault attempts near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Tabaivka, Pishchane, Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Kyslivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults near Terny (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). In that area Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Serebryanka, Terny, Tors'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Vasyukivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novokalynove, Novobakhmutivka, Stepove, Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast), where Ukrainian defenders repelled 19x attacks. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Russian forces made 1x attempt to attack in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast), Novodarivka, Levadne (Zaporizhzhia oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 10x attacks in the vicinities of Malynivka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Huliaipilske, Novodanylivka, Novoandriivka, Stepove, Kam'yans'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. During the day, Russian forces made 5x attempts to
assault positions of Ukrainian troops. The city of Kherson, the settlements of Antonivka, Zelenivka, Krynky (Kherson oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire. On top of that, Russian forces launched 9x MLRS strikes.

During the day of February 19, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, 1x command post, 10x artillery systems. Moreover, in the eastern sector, Ukrainian Air Force units destroyed two Russian aircraft: 1x Su-34 fighter-bomber and 1x Su-35S fighter.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 4x ammunition depots, 5x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces' units, aviation, and artillery repelled six attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 30th, 32nd, 60th mechanised brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 30 servicemen, one Leopard tank, two armoured personnel carriers, and four motor vehicles.

In the course of the counterbattery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation on the front line, and hit units of AFU 22nd, 42nd, 93rd mechanised, 79th, 80th air assault brigades close to Novomikhailovka, Grigorovka, Kurdyumovka, and Kleshcheyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, four attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade were repelled near Leninskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 275 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, and one D-30 howitzer were destroyed.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units captured more favourable lines and positions, and fully liberated the coke and chemical plant.

Strikes were delivered at clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 71st jaeger, 23rd mechanised, and 116th territorial defence brigades close to Solovyevo and Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Nine attacks launched by assault groups of AFU 53rd, 59th mechanised, 3rd assault brigades were repelled near Lastochkino and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 565 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, two armoured fighting vehicles, 23 motor vehicles, two U.S.-made M777 howitzers, and one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of AFU 102nd, 128th territorial defence brigades close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic) and Chervonoye (Zaporozhye region).

One attack launched by assault groups of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade was repelled close to Shevchenko (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost up to 150 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, and two Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Russian troops, the AFU lost up to 45 Ukrainian troops, four pick-up trucks, and one D-20 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one French-made SAMP/T air defence system, as well as AFU manpower and hardware in 138 areas during the day.

Air defence systems shot down 96 unmanned aerial vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Olshana, Krakhmalnoye, Timkovka (Kharkov region), Svatovo, Kremennaya (Lugansk People's Republic), Artyomovsk, Peski, Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Ulyanovka, Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region), Razdolnoye (Kherson region), as well as two HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

In total, 571 airplanes and 266 helicopters, 12,819 unmanned aerial vehicles, 471 air defence missile systems, 15,107 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,222 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,102 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 18,837 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.