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Russo-Ukraine War - 02 March 2024 - Day 738

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 a week on from the loss of a second A-SOU MAINSTAY Airborne early warning and control aircraft, Russia has highly likely grounded the fleet from flying in support of Ukraine operations. This is likely to continue whilst internal investigations take place surrounding the failure to protect another high value enabler, and how to mitigate the threat Ukrainian air defence continues to pose.

The loss of this capability providing daily command and control to Russian air operations highly likely significantly degrades the situational awareness provided to air crews. This is a capability gap Russia can ill afford over the contested airspace of eastern and southern Ukraine.

It is likely that Russia will have to explore options to bridge this gap, including repurposing aircraft and accepting greater risk to provide the effective air support its ground forces require, but are likely not receiving. This is a prolonged issue that has almost certainly been exacerbated by the removal of A-50s supporting operations. Airframe and crew fatigue are almost certain to intensify once the A-50 does return to operations, with the fleet increasingly stretched. It is a realistic possibility Russia may attempt to bring previously mothballed A-50 airframes back into service to alleviate this.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 2, there were 70x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 48x air strikes, carried out 60x 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 an air strike in the vicinity of Svesa (Sumy oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Bachivs'k, Velyka Berizka, Pokrovka, Basivka, Pavlivka (Sumy oblast), Mala Vovcha, Basove, Vovchans'k, Starytsya, Udy (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted 4x attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Berestove, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike near Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Andriivka, Vasyukivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near New York (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Kostyantynivka, Novobakhmutivka, Krasnohorivka, Orlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 22x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The adversary launched air strikes near Heorhiivka, Vodyane, Urozhaine and Bohoyavlenka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted 1x unsuccessful attack in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Verbove, Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka, Rivnopil', P'yatykhatky (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. Russian forces conducted 1x assault attempt near Krynky (Kherson oblast), to no success. More than 25x settlements, including Kachkarivka, L'vove, Kherson, Stanislav, Tomyna Balka, Inzhenerne and Kozats'ke (Kherson oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 2, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 8x concentrations of Russian troops. The UAF Air Force has shot down 1x Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber this evening.

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

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36212) the Zapad Group of Force' units improved the situation on the front line, and hit AFU 57th mechanised inafantry, and 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Akatsiya self-propelled artilery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, one D-20 howitzer, and one AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar were wiped out.

In Donetsk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36213) units of the Yug Group of Forcs captured more favourable lines and positions, and strike at units of AFU 28th mechanised, 46th, and 81st airmobile, 5th, and 92nd assault brigades close to Krasnogorovka, Georgiyevka, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 390 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and nine motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one UK-made AS-90 self propelled artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery sytem, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, three D-20 howitzers, one U.S.-made M119 towed gun, one Strela-10 SAM system, one U.S-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar, and one EW station were destroyed.

Moreover, one AFU ammunition depot was wipied out in Avdeyevka direction.

In Aveyevka direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36214) the Tsentr Group of Forces' units continue to capture more favourable positions, and hit clusters of manpower and hardware of the AFU 107th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Eight counter-attaks launched by assault groups of AFU 24th mechanised, 3rd assault, and 25th air assault brigades were repelled near Petrovskoye, Leninskoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 160 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and one Msta-B howitzer were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36215) units of the Vostok Group of Forces hit units of AFU 72nd mechanised, 58th mechanised infantry brigades, and 121st territorial defence brigades close to Novodonetskoye, Ugledar, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 270 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In Kherson direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36216) units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 118th mechanised infantry, 35th marines, 126th territorial defence brigades near Ivanovka (Kherson region), Rabotino and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost up to 60 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one ammunition depot.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted five Storm Shadow cruise missiles and seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

Moreover, 107 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Yasinovataye, Pavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Zmiyevka, Troitskoye, Novokrasnyanka, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Novoprokopovka, Kopani, Shevchenkovo, Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye region), Kolodeznoye (Kharkov region), and Chernomorovka (Kherson region).

In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,969 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 air defence missile systems, 15,323 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,227 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,259 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,257 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.