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Russo-Ukraine War - 22 February 2024 - Day 729

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 on 14 February 2024, Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists that while the "special military operation began as an operation against Ukraine, over time it has taken on the form of a war against the collective West, a war when the countries of the collective West, led by the United States, are directly involved in this conflict." This is broadly consistent with a trend in Russian official rhetoric that seeks to excuse the length of the conflict, and scale of Russian losses through the depiction of the war as a direct conflict with the West.

Peskov went on to acknowledge that the 'special military operation' "may last a bit longer, but this can't change the course of things." This forms part of the Russian official narrative almost certainly aimed at situating the domestic population for a long-term conflict and the associated decline in domestic living standards, while providing reassurance of ultimate Russian victory.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during during the day of February 22, there were 84x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 50x air strikes, carried out 80x 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. Around 10x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Iskryskivshchyna, Seredyna-Buda, Ryasne, Popivka (Sumy oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces made 4x assault attempts near Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x assaults near Terny and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Rozdolivka, Vesele (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Makiivka, Nevs'ke (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 8x attacks in the vicinity of Andriivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Toretsk (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Andriivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Orlivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Berdychi, Semenivka, Orlivka, Lastochkyne, Tonen'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Berdychi, Semenivka, Sjeverne, Netailove (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 31x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka, Oleksandropil', Krasnohorivka, Kurakhove, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults near Zolota Nyva. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Vuhledar and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Prechystivka, Zolota Nyva, Staromaiors'ke, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks west of Verbove and in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka (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 2x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. More than 5x settlements, including the city of Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of February 22, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 6x concentrations of Russian troops, 3x air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x logistics hub, 2x air defense systems, 1x UAV ground control station of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 10th mountain assault, 14th mechanised brigades close to Petropavlovka (Kharkov region).

In addition, three attacks of the AFU 57th Mechanised Infantry Brigade were repelled close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy lost up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and three motor vehicles.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one U.S.-made M198 howitzer, one Giatsint and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Force liberated Pobeda, improved the situation on the front line, and hit units of AFU 92nd assault, 79th air assault, 46th airmobile brigades close to Novomikhailovka and Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were more than 410 troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, Polish-made Krab and Bogdana self-propelled artillery systems, one D-20 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions, and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of AFU 53rd mechanised, 3rd assault, 107th, 116th territorial defence brigades near Orlovka and Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Nine attacks and counter-attacks of the enemy units were repelled close to Novgorodskoye, Leninskoye, Berdichi, Lastochkino, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 145 Ukrainian troops, five infantry fighting vehicles, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, 26 motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

?? In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Force inflicted losses on units of AFU 58th mechanised infantry, 128th territorial defence brigades near Novodonetskoye and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses amounted to up to 155 troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, one combat vehicle of Strela-10 SAM system, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, one M-46 gun, and one electronic warfare system.

In Kherson direction, the Dnepr Group of Forces' units inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 28th mechanised, 35th marines, and 121st territorial defence brigades near Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka and Mikhailovka (Kherson region).

In addition, three enemy attacks were repelled close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

Up to 50 Ukrainian personnel, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were repelled.

Russian Defence Ministry report on the progress of the special military operation

Operational-Tactical aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces wiped out a self-propelled launcher and a transport and loader vehicle of the U.S-made Patriot SAM system, as well as engaged manpower and hardware in 114 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down one S-200 anti-aircraft missile converted to hit ground targets, eight HIMARS MLRS projectiles, and one JDAM aerial guided bomb.

Ninety five Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed near Chervonopopovka, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Staromlynovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Verbovoye, Novofyodorovka, Tokmak (Zaporozhye region), and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region).

In total, 572 airplanes and 266 helicopters, 13,137 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 air defence missile systems, 15,171 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 8,138 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 18,950 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.