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Russo-Ukraine War - 03 March 2024 - Day 739

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 the average daily number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine throughout February 2024 was the highest rate it has been, since the start of the war, at 983 per day.

The increase in the daily average almost certainly reflects Russia's commitment to mass and attritional warfare. Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraine's positions across the frontline.

To date, Russia has highly likely lost over 355,000 personnel killed and wounded during the Ukraine war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 3, there were 68x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile and 44x air strikes, carried out 54x 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 Lisne, Rozhkovychi. Druzhba, Bobylivka, Kyyanytsya (Sumy oblast), Vovchans'k, Velykyi Burluk (Kharkiv oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Yeline, Buchky (Chernihiv oblast), Stara Huta, Seredyna-Buda, Sosnivka, Vovkivka, Oleksandrivka, Novodmytrivka (Sumy oblast), Udy, Veterynarne, Vovchans'k, Okhrimivka, Milove, Topoli (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary conducted 9x attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Nadiya, Tverdokhlibove (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 3x assaults near Terny, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 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 18x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Pokrovsk, Novobakhmutivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Opytne, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Orlivka, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 27x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The adversary launched air strikes near Kurakhove, Vodyane, Vuhledar, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Kurakhove, Maksymil'yanivka, Yelyzavetivka, Katerynivka, Vodyane, Vuhledar, Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: the Russian adversary conducted no offensives. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Verkhnya Tersa and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Novodarivka, Hulyaipole, Malynivka, Omel'nyk, Orikhiv, Novoandriivka, Prymors'ke (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. Russian forces conducted no offensives. The city of Kherson came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 3, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces launched strikes manpower and hardware of 25th airborne, 95th air assault, 141st infantry brigades close to Terni (Donetsk People's Republic), Kupyansk, Peschanoye, Berestovoye, Petrovskoye (Kharkov region).

In addition, five attacks of AFU 57th mechanised infantry, 32nd mechanised brigades' units were repelled near Sinkovka (Kharkov region). The enemy losses amounted to up to 35 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 and one U.S.-made M198 howitzers, and one D-20 howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forcs captured more favourable lines and positions, and hit units of AFU 22nd, 28th, 56th mechanised infantry, 5th and 92nd assault brigades near Krasnoye, Bogdanovka, Kurdyumovka, and Andreyevka (Donetsk People's Republic). Moreover, three enemy attacks were repelled close to Kleshcheyevka and Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 240 Ukrainian servicemen, two armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system. One AFU ammunition depot was wipied out.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units improved the situation on the front line, and repelled 11 attacks launched by units of AFU 53rd mechanised, 59th mechanised infantry, 25th airborne, 3rd assault brigades near Tonenkoye, Orlovka, Pervomayskoye, and Berdichi (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, two attacks launched by assault groups of the AFU 24th Mechanised Brigade were repelled near Novgorodskoye(Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 460 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, five infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles were neutralised. In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Giatsint guns, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system were destroyed.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces captured more favourable lines and positions, and hit units of AFU 72nd mechanised, 128th territorial defence brigades close to Dobropolye (Zaporozhye region), Ugledar and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

More than 250 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, and one Grad MLRS were wiped out during the day.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 128th mountain assault, 35th, 36th marines brigades near Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka, Antonovka (Kherson region).

One attack of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade's assault group was repelled near Rabotino (Zaporozhye region). The enemy lost up to 40 Ukrainian troops and five motor vehicles.

Also, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, one D-20 howitzer, one D-30 howitzer, and one Anklav-N electronic warfare station were hit during counter-battery warfare.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged one AFU aviation ammunition depot, as well as manpower and hardware in 106 areas during the day.

Russian air defence forces have intercepted two HIMARS MLRS projectiles during the day.

In addition, 143 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, including Bayraktar TB-2, were intercepted near Volokitino (Sumskaya region), Krasnogorovka, Orlovka, Verkhnetoretskoye, Pervomayskoye, Pavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Sinkovka, Tokarevka (Kharkov region), Novoye, Shcherbaki (Zaporozhye region), Tyaginka, Berislav, and Skadovsk (Kherson region).

In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 14,112 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 air defence missile systems, 15,335 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,228 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,275 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,298 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the day.