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Russo-Ukraine War - 04 March 2024 - Day 740

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 February 2024 Russia has undertaken a campaign of one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle (OWA UAV) against Ukrainian infrastructure, including electrical power infrastructure. Ukrainian air defence forces have repeatedly engaged the OWA UAVs, but Russia's strikes have highly likely damaged Ukrainian power plants and electrical substations.

These attacks have taken place across Ukraine with damage being inflicted on regional power infrastructure including in Donetsk, Dnipro, and as far west as Lviv. Russian attacks have highly likely been undertaken by a combination of OWA UAVs, surface-to-surface missile systems and conventional rocket artillery, rather than Russian long-range aviation assets as observed in 2022 and 2023.

It is likely that Russia has sought to target regional power facilities to degrade industrial activities in Ukraine. Despite these attacks, Ukraine's power network is maintaining stable network operations.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile and 44x air strikes, carried out 68x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in 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 Chuikivka (Sumy oblast), Lyptsi, Varvarivka, Nesterne, Kolodyazne (Kharkiv oblast). Around 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Tovstodubove, Seredyna-Buda (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Krasne, Neskuchne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted 6x attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast), Tverdokhlibove Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Zapadne, Syn'kivka, Stepova Novoselivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault near Terny (Donetsk oblast), where the adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinity of Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of New York and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Hryhorivka, Chasiv Yar, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 21x attacks in the vicinities of Novoselivka, Berdychi, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Semenivka, Netailove, Kalynove (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, Prechystivka and Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian invaders, with air support, made 16x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike near Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: the adversary conducted no offensives. However, Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Novodarivka, Malynivka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Malynivka, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: the Russian occupiers, despite significant losses, do not abandon their intention to drive Ukrainian units out of their footholds on the left bank of the Dnipro. Thus, during the day, Russian forces carried out 2x unsuccessful assaults. More than 20x settlements, including Kherson, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky, Zmiivka (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 4, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 8x concentrations of Russian troops, 1x UAVs ground control station. On top of that, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 1x Kh-59 air-launched guided missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of troops, 1x air defense system, 6x artillery systems of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces have improved the tactical situation and inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of AFU 43rd and 66th mechanised, 57th motorised infantry, and 115th territorial defence brigades near Makeyevka (Lugansk People's Republic), Ivanovka, Chugunovka, and Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 160 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In Donetsk direction, the Yug Group of Forces defeated the units of the 28th mechanised, 46th airmobile, 79th air assault, and 214th territorial defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Georgiyevka, and Maksimilyanovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The Armed Forces of Ukraine lost up to 360 troops, two armoured personnel carriers, two motor vehicles, one Grad MLRS launcher, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, and one Msta-B gun.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions and inflicted fire defeat on AFU manpower and hardware of the 24th and 110th mechanised, 71st jaeger brigades and 103rd Territorial Defence Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine close to Novokalinovo, Mayorsk, Berdychi, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy lost over 490 Ukrainian personnel, two tanks, including one U.S.-manufactured Abrams; four infantry fighting vehicles, including three U.S.-manufactured Bradley; three armoured fighting vehicles, and 12 motor vehicles.

In counter-battery warfare, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, one Gvozdika gun, and three D-30 howitzers were hit.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade and 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye, Vladimirovka, and Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over 320 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and seven motor vehicles were neutralised.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit the clusters of manpower and military hardware of the 65th, 118th mechanised and 128th Mountain Assault brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 15th National Guard Brigade of Ukraine close to Rabotino, Verbovoye, and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy's losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, two HIMARS MLRS launchers, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, missile troops and artillery of the Group of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroyed two UAV command posts close to Novokalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic) and Antonovka (Kherson region), as well as manpower and military hardware in 128 areas.

Air defence facilities have shot down 81 unmanned aerial vehicles near Orlinskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), Chervonogorka and Samoylovka (Zaporozhye region), and Gladovka and Krynki (Kherson region).

In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 14,193 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 air defence missile systems, 15,348 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,231 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,286 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,325 pieces of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation.