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Russo-Ukraine War - 25 February 2024 - Day 732

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 at the outset of the war with Ukraine in February 2022, the Russian Navy (RFN) maintained the freedom to manoeuvre throughout the entirety of the Black Sea, most significantly in the north-west. Following Ukraine's success in employing asymmetric alternatives to its lack of a traditional navy (various guided missiles and uncrewed vessels), the RFN has been repeatedly forced to reassess its appetite for risk. Ukraine has continued to push Russian threat perception to new highs through combined strike activities on land and at sea, forcing Black Sea Fleet (BSF) units to relocate their main operating areas to the eastern Black Sea.

The ongoing success of Ukrainian attacks has persistently forced the BSF onto the back foot, with recent events such as the sinking of the TARANTUL III-class 'IVANOVETS' and ROPUCHA-class 'CAESAR KUNIKOV' leading to the dismissal of the second BSF commander since the war began. Despite Russia's continued ability to strike Ukraine using vessels in the relative safety of the eastern Black Sea, it is increasingly evident that the defensive posture adopted to mitigate against Ukraine's non-conventional approach to maritime warfare is not working as intended.

At a strategic level, Ukraine's approach has denied Russia the ability to interfere with its maritime trade routes. Since the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI), Ukraine's momentum has allowed it to dominate the western Black Sea. This has resulted in an increase in its exports via the unilateral Humanitarian Corridor, delivering higher trade volumes than under the BSGI, putting them on par with pre-war levels.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 25, there were 81x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 4x missile and 73x air strikes, carried out 52x 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. The Russian adversary launched an air strike in the vicinity of Yamne (Sumy oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Mkhy, Buchky, Mykhal'chyna Sloboda (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Strilecha, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks near Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 2x assaults near Terny (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Vesele (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka, Kurdyumivka, Maiors'k, Pivnichne and Zalizne (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Kurdyumivka, Klishchiivka, New York and Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 18x attacks in the vicinities of Stepove, Berdychi, Lastochkyne, Sjeverne, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near New York, Ocheretyne, Zhelanne, Berdychi, Lastochkyne, Yasnobrodivka, Netailove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 25x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Ocheretyne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Mar'inka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the Russian invaders in the vicinity of Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 18x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. On top of that, Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x attacks in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Vodyane, Paraskoviivka, Novomykhailivka, Volodymyrivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Novomykhailivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Novopavlivka axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. 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 6x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne and 1x assault near Huliaipilske (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Orikhiv, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 10x settlements, including Novodarivka, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces 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 4x attempts to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. Around 15x 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 25, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of Russian troops, 2x positions of air defense systems.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x artillery position of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, manpower and hardware concentration areas of 143rd infantry and 25th airborne brigades of the AFU have been hit close to Prikolotnoye (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, four enemy counterattacks have been repelled near Senkovka railway station (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses were up to 180 servicemen, one tank, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, one U.S.-manufactured M198 howitzer, and one D-20 gun.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have improved their position along the front line and defeated formations of 22nd, 28th, and 92nd mechanised brigades of the AFU near Kleshcheevka, Dyleevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 360 servicemen, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system, one German-manufactured Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 gun, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one AFU ammunition depot have been hit.

In Avdeevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces have taken more advantageous lines and positions and defeated manpower and hardware concentration areas of the 3rd Assault Brigade and the 107th Territorial Defence Brigade of the AFU near Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, seven enemy counterattacks have been repelled near Novgorodskoye, Leninskoye, Lastochkino, and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 100 servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, eight motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS, one D-30 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have inflicted a fire defeat on formations of 72nd mechanised and 58th motorised infantry brigades, and the 121st Brigade of the AFU close to Novodonetskoye, Ugledar, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, one counterattack by an AFU assault group has been repelled near Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 140 soldiers, two tanks, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, and one Grad MLRS.

In addition, one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station and one AFU ammunition depot have been hit.

In Kherson direction, as a result of coordinated actions by units of the Dnepr Group of Forces, manpower and hardware concentration areas of 28th and 65th mechanised brigades of the AFU have been hit close to Rabotino and Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, two counterattacks by assault groups of the 15th Brigade of the Ukrainian National Guard have been repelled near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were up to 30 soldiers, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-manufactured M777 artillery system.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have neutralised manpower and military hardware in 127 areas.

Air defence facilities have destroyed six HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles.

In addition, 77 unmanned aerial vehicles have bit shot down close to Novokrasnyanka, Raigorodka, Troitskoye, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye region), and Chernomorovka (Kherson region).

In total, 574 airplanes, 267 helicopters, 13,392 unmanned aerial vehicles, 473 air defence missile systems, 15,220 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,225 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,161 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,055 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.