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Russo-Ukraine War - 26 February 2024 - Day 733

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 throughout its conflict with Ukraine, Russia has sought to use energy as a weapon. Russia's kinetic strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure has caused widespread electricity shortages across the nation, while globally Russian President Vladimir Putin has used energy policy to undermine international energy security.

By reducing gas flows to Europe, through restricting pipeline exports and altering payment terms, Putin has sought to undermine unity across Europe against Russia's illegal war.

Russia's weaponisation of energy will likely remain a coercive instrument, demonstrating the links between Russia's security and energy policy. It is highly likely that Russia will continue to use energy as a weapon for global economic gain and political influence, signifying the link between energy, security, political and military objectives.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 26, there were 79x combat engagements.
Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 58x air strikes, carried out 70x 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 Nova Sich (Sumy oblast) and Velykyi Burluk (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Bleshnya, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Znob-Novhorods'ke, Seredyna-Buda, Mykyts'ke, Shalyhyne, Pavlivka, Khotin', Popivka (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Veterynarne, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Chuhunivka, Stroivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks near Ivanivka, Tabaivka and another 14 attacks in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers, with air support, made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x assaults near Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne and Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes near Chasiv Yar, Predtechyne, New York (Donetsk oblast). More than10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 15x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Sjeverne, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Ocheretyne, Novoselivka, Persha Semenivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Vovche, Berdychi, Stepove, Orlivka (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, Russian forces made 15x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. On top of that, Ukrainian defenders repelled 8x attacks in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Pobjeda and Krasnohorivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes near Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). The settlements of Krasnohorivka, Maksymil'yanivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, 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, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Zaporizhzhia axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 5x attacks in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novoselivka, Lyubymivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Stepove (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 the city of Kherson, Zolota Balka, Ivanivka, Sadove, Bilozerka, Tomyna Balka, Stanislav (Kherson oblast), and Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast) came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
During the day of February 26, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 9x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 1x command post, 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 inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 141st Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Peschanoe (Kharkov region).

Russian troops repelled seven attacks launched by assault groups of the 32nd mechanised and 57th motorised infantry brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine closse to Sinkovka (Kharkov region), as well as two counterattacks of the 60th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 145 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions and defeated the units of the 28th mechanised, 92nd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 241st territorial defence brigades close to Kurdyumovka, Andreyevka, and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, three attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 79th Air Assault Brigade were repelled near Novomikhailovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost more than 420 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, as well as one counter-battery station.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated the settlement of Lastochkino and continued to improve the situation along the front line.

Russian troops hit clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 144th infantry, 59th motorised infantry, 23rd mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Umanskoye, Netailovo, and Ocheretino (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, six counterattacks of assault groups of the 53rd, 61st mechanised, 59th motorised infantry, 3rd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Severnoye, Pervomayskoye, and Petrovskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), as well as two attacks of units of the 24th mechanised and 71st jaeger brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Leninskoe and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic) were repelled.

The enemy lost up to 410 troops, one tank, three infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, as well as one D-30 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted fire damage on the 128th Territorial Defence Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Vodyanoye, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, two attacks of assault groups of the 102nd Territorial Defence Brigade in vicinity of Marfopol (Zaporozhye region) were repelled.

The enemy's losses amounted to 150 troops, three armoured fighting vehicles, four motor vehicles, as well as one electronic warfare station.

In Kherson direction, the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 44th airmobile and 65th mechanised brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the 15th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine near Orekhov and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

Moreover, one attack launched by an assault group of the 118th Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was repelled close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to 50 troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, as well as one Grad MLRS vehicle.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have hit one Norwegian-made NASAMS launcher, AFU manpower and military hardware in 107 areas during the day.

Air defence systems shot down two Storm Shadow cruise missiles, as well as five HIMARS projectiles.

In addition, 62 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down, including those close to Novokrasnyanka, Lisichansk (Lugansk People's Republic), Kopani (Zaporozhye region) and Gladovka (Kherson region).

In total, 574 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,454 unmanned aerial vehicles, 474 air defence missile systems, 15,237 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,226 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,167 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,095 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.