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Russo-Ukraine War - 24 February 2024 - Day 731

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 Russia originally deployed approximately 130 Battalion Tactical Groups for its invasion of Ukraine. This likely included approximately 1,300 tanks, over 5,000 infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and armoured personnel carriers (IAPCs), and at least 100,000 personnel.

In two years of conflict, Russian losses match — and in many cases surpass — those that comprised its original force. Confirmed Russian losses include over 2,700 tanks and 5,000 IFVs and APCs. Russia's killed and wounded are likely approximately 350,000 personnel.

Mobilisation and recruitment, production and refurbishment of existing stockpiles means that losses have been replaced. Russian forces in Ukraine are now larger in number than at the start of the war. It is now able to maintain attacks along the front line and pursue a strategy of attrition against Ukrainian forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 24, there were 69x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 7x missile and 54x air strikes, carried out 77x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements.

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 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Iskryskivshchyna, Volfyne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russia conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault near Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near Bohdanivka, New York and Dyliivka (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Oleksandropil', Novoselivka Persha, Berdychi, Semenivka, Novobakhmutivka, Orlivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian invaders made 23x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka, Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x attack south of Zolota Nyva (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine and Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Prechystivka, Blahodatne, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). More than 10x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Chervone, Robotyne 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 2x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. Around 10x settlements, including Novotyahynka, Tyahynka, Krynky, Ivanivka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of February 24, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 13x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x radar 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 inflicted losses on units of the AFU 30th and 32th mechanised brigades and repelled three counterattacks near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 55 Ukrainian troops, two pickup trucks, and one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 28th Mechanised Brigade and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Krasnoye and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Moreover, one counterattack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Bogdanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 395 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to take more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th and 53rd mechanised brigades.

Two counterattacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 59th Mechanised Brigade and 3rd Assault Brigade were repelled near Pervomayskoye and Latochkino (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 425 Ukrainian troops killed and wounded, three tanks, 10 armoured fighting vehicles, and 24 motor vehicles.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 108th Territorial Defence Brigade near Lugovskoye (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, one counterattack of the AFU 58th Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Shevchenko (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, six motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces supported by artillery inflicted losses on units of the AFU 65th and 118th mechanised brigades near Rabotino and Verbovoye (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, eight motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled howitzer, and one D-30 howitzer.

In addition, one AFU field ammunition depot was destroyed.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 117 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down two Ukrainian Air Force MiG-29 aircraft near Yasenovoye and Selidovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

One JDAM guided aerial bomb and two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles were intercepted over the past 24 hours.

In addition, 92 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been neutralised close to Volnovakha (Donetsk People's Republic), Chubaryovka (Zaporozhye region), Novaya Zburyevka, and Novaya Mayachka (Kherson region).

In total, 574 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,315 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 air defence missile systems, 15,207 tanks and other armoured combat vehicles, 1,223 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,152 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,030 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.