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Russo-Ukraine War - 29 February 2024 - Day 736

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 territory west of Avdiivka remains the focal effort of Russia's offensive in eastern Ukraine. Russia took control of Avdiivka on 17 February 2024, and has since advanced approximately 6 km from the centre of the town.

Russia has almost certainly taken control of several villages in the area: Lastochkyne, Stepove and Sieverne. These tactical gains serve primarily to consolidate Russian positions around Avdiivka. Russia is also likely seeking to build momentum on the axis to take advantage of the fact that there are fewer fixed, well defended positions, and urban areas from which Ukrainian forces can defend.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of February 29, there were 73x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 79x air strikes, carried out 90x 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 Bolohivka, Mytrofanivka (Kharkiv oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Hirs'k, Karpovychi (Chernihiv oblast), Nova Huta, Seredyna-Buda, Druzhba, Fotovyzh, Vorozhba (Sumy oblast), Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x attacks near Petropavlivka and Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian troops from their positions. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), where the Russian adversary, 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, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 2x 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 Virolyubivka and Mykolaivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, Andriivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 22x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The adversary launched air strikes near Oleksandropil', Novooleksandrivka, Ocheretyne, Novobakhmutivka, Soloviove, Semenivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Ocheretyne, Vovche, Berdychi, Stepove, Orlivka (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back the invaders in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka and Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 22x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Kostyantynivka, Vodyane, Urozhaine, Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Maksymil'yanivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Kostyantynivka, Blahodatne, Staromaiors'ke, Rivnopil' (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 1x attack in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Levadne, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Novodanylivka, Yurkivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Levadne, Poltavka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Stepove (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the 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 4x attempt to assault positions of Ukrainian troops. Around 10x settlements, including the city of Kherson, the settlements of Mykhailivka, Beryslav, Ponyativka, Inhulets (Kherson oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of February 29, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops.

On top of that, the Ukrainian Air Force units destroyed 3x Su-34 fighter-bombers.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 2x concentrations of troops, weapons and military equipment, 3x BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems, 1x ammunition depot, 1x electronic warfare 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 improved the tactical situation and delivered strikes at enemy manpower and hardware near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 50 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of the counterbattery warfare, one U.S.-made M198 howitzer, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-30 howitzer, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems were eliminated.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and inflicted fire damage on cluster of manpower and military hardware of the 28th mechanised and 92nd assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Four counter-attacks of the AFU 10th Mountain Assault Brigade were repelled close to Berestovoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 600 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured personnel carriers, and ten motor vehicles.

In counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one Uragan MLRS vehicle, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 gun, and three D-30 howitzers.

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, 61st mechanised, 59th motorised infantry brigades near Berdychi, Severnoye, Orlovka, and Pervomayskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 495 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, four armoured fighting vehicles, and 11 motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, three D-20 howitzers, one Msta-B howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled system, and two D-30 howitzers were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces delivered complex strikes at AFU manpower and hardware near Rovnopol, Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 105 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, Russian units took more advantageous positions and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 128th mountain assault, 118th mechanised, 35 marine brigades near Rabotino, Stepovoye, Malye Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), and Tokarevka (Kherson region).

The enemy lost up to 50 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, as well as one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In Kherson direction, the Russian Group of Forces neutralised one Ukrainian sabotage group of the 73rd Marine Special Operations Centre in an attempt to land close to Tendra Spit using speedboats.

As a result of a short battle, four of the speedboats with the landing groups were destroyed and sunk, the fifth turned round and travelled at high speed in the opposite direction.

The enemy lost up to 25 Ukrainian troops. One serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was taken prisoner.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit: a command post of Kupyansk Task Force, two command posts (72nd mechanised and 59th motorised infantry brigades), one S-300PS anti-aircraft missile system, three ammunition depots, as well as manpower and military hardware in 126 areas.

Air defence systems have shot down nine HIMARS MLRS shells and two JDAM aerial guided bombs.

In addition, 93 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Lisichansk, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Kurdyumovka, Pervomayskoye, Krinichnaya (Donetsk People's Republic), Mikhailovka (Zaporozhye region).

In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,715 unmanned aerial vehicles, 475 air defence missile systems, 15,286 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,227 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,223 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,211 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.