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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 February 2024 - Day 727

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 within the past week Russian forces have taken control of Avdiivka as well as the coke plant situated to the north of the town, both of which have been heavily contested since October 2023 and have been on the front line since 2014.

Ukrainian forces have withdrawn to defensive positions west of Avdiivka.

It is likely that Russian forces lack the combat effectiveness to immediately exploit the capture of Avdiivka and will require a period of rest and refit. In coming weeks Russia will likely seek to gradually extend its territorial control beyond Avdiivka.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 20, there were 50x combat engagements. Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 99x air strikes, carried out 82x 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 other 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 Hrachivka, Chuhunivka, Fedorivka, Katerynivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Khrinivka, Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Kucherivka, Nova Sloboda, Volfyne, Myropillya, Stepok, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Pletenivka, Budarky, Ambarne, Stroivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces made 2x unsuccessful assault attempts near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Shevchenkove, Ivanivka, Hlushkivka, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Masyutivka, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x assaults near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Vyimka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Vesele and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Karmazynivka, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinity of Ivanivske (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Virolyubivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Bila Hora, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x attacks in the vicinities of Stepove, Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Oleksandropil', Ocheretyne, Orlivka, Lastochkyne, Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Tonen'ke, Karlivka, Netailove, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 17x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Katerynivka, Yelyzavetivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Russian forces made 6x unsuccessful attempts to improve their tactical situation south of Prechystivka and Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vodyane and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 20x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Zaliznychne, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky (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 1x attempt to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. The city of Kherson, the settlements of Ponyativka, Bilozerka, Veletens'ke, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of February 20, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, 5x air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 9x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 10x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.