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Russo-Ukraine War - 08 March 2024 - Day 744

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 Mohajer-6 is an Iranian-produced uncrewed aerial vehicle, provided to Russia and observed flying over the Black Sea and Crimea. The Mohajer-6 is an Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance system but can also conduct air-to-surface attacks with free-fall guided munitions.

Its practical range is limited by line of sight to maintain real-time operator control: approximately 200 km at 10,000 ft. This can be extended by handover to another ground control station.

The continued presence of the system in western Crimea is likely evidence of Russia trying to identify threats to Russian ports and vessels following recent Ukrainian successes. • There is a realistic possibility its mission also includes supporting Russian targeting processes for the south-west Ukrainian coastline. Ukraine has shot down at least one Mohajer-6 — on 23 September 2022 over the Black Sea — and Russia likely accidentally shot down a system over Crimea on 6 June 2023.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 8, there were 74x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 7x missile and 67x air strikes, carried out 79x 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. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Sopych, Sydorivka, Volfyne (Sumy oblast) and Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Around 40x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Sen'kivka, Yeline, Bleshnya, Lub'yane (Chernihiv oblast), Baranivka, Basivka, Zapsillya, Hrabovs'ke (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Vovchans'k, Krasne, Neskuchne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted 3x attacks on the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Syn'kivka and Kyslivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Syn'kivka, Tabaivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Holubivka, Syn'kivka, Kotlyarivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults near Terny and Spirne (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka, Makiivka (Luhansk oblast) and in the area of Serebryans'ke forestry. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Makiivka, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Serebryanka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 9x attacks in the vicinities of Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Hol'mivs'kyi and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, New York and Hryhorivka (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x 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 Novooleksandrivka, Prohres, Novobakhmutivka, Berdychi (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x 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 Pobjeda, Krasnohorivka, Novomykhailivka (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces, with air support, made 18x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes near Volodymyrivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted 6x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Robotyne and west of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Malynivka, Charivne, Bilohir'ya, Novodanylivka, P'yatykhatky (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements in Kherson and Mykolaiv oblasts, including the city of Kherson, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Krynky, Novotyahynka.

During the day of March 8, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 3x electronic warfare stations, including 2x R-330Zh Zhitel stations, and 1x ammunition depot of Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have launched 34 group strikes with precision weapons, multiple-launch system, and unmanned aerial vehicles, hitting facilities where uncrewed boats were being assembled and prepared for combat use, arsenals, fuel bases for military hardware, and deployment points of AFU units, nationalist formations, and foreign mercenaries.

In Kupyansk direction, as a result of active actions by units of the Zapad Group of Forces, the position along the front line has been improved, enemy manpower and hardware have been eliminated near Kupyansk, Peschanoye, and Berestovoye (Kharkov region).

Russian troops have repelled 24 counterattacks by assault groups of 32nd, 41st mechanised, and 57th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU close to Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 540 servicemen, two tanks, four armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery systems, and one Grad MLRS.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces have occupied more advantageous lines and defeated formations of 5th, 92nd assault, 28th, 33rd mechanised, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades of the AFU and the 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Kleshcheyevka, Kurdyumovka, Andreevka, and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

In addition, Russian troops have repelled eight enemy counterattacks near Krasnogorovka, Novomikhailovka, and Pobeda (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were over 1,970 servicemen, 11 tanks, 17 armoured fighting vehicles, 47 motor vehicles, 25 field artillery guns, two Grad MLRS, and one Strela-10 surface-to-air missile system.

Ten AFU field ammunition depots have been also destroyed.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces continued to occupy more advantageous lines and positions.

In cooperation with aviation and artillery, the troops and hardware of 23rd, 31st, 47th, 78th, 110th mechanised, 59th motor infantry, 71st jaeger brigades, as well as 103rd and 107th territorial defence brigades have been defeated close to Tonenkoye, Toretsk, Ocheretino, Novosyolka Pervaya, Mayorsk, and Rozovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Russian troops have repelled 65 counterattacks by AFU assault groups near Berdychi, Tonenkoye, Leninskoye, Petrovskoye, Novgorodskoye, Pervomayskoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

During the week, the enemy losses were over 2,860 servicemen, seven tanks, including two U.S.-manufactured Abrams tanks, 34 armoured fighting vehicles, 47 motor vehicles, 20 field artillery guns, one U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS, and one Strela-10 SAM system.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces have improved their position along the front line and defeated units of 65th, 72nd, 118th mechanised, 58th motorised infantry brigades of the AFU, 102nd, 105th, and 128th territorial defence brigades close to Novodonetskoye, Ugledar, Dobropolye, Shevchenko, Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic), and Malinovka (Zaporozhye region).

In addition, three counterattacks by units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade have been repelled near Vodyanoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses were up to 1,620 troops, six tanks, 13 armoured fighting vehicles, 28 motor vehicles, seven field artillery systems, one Grad MLRS, two Strela-10 SAM systems, and one UK-manufactured Stormer SAM system.

In Kherson direction, Russian troops have taken more favourable positions and inflicted a comprehensive fire defeat on manpower and hardware of 65th, 117th, 118th mechanised, 128th mountain assault brigades, 35th, 36th, and 38th marine brigades, 14th and 23rd national guard brigades and the 126th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Malaya Tokmachka, Pyatikhatki, and Nesteryanka (Zaporozhye region), Ivanovka, Sadovoye, Mikhailovka, Antonovka, and Tokarevka (Kherson region).

Russian troops have repelled two attacks by assault groups of the AFU 118th Mechanised Brigade close to Rabotino (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy losses were over 295 soldiers, two tanks, 22 motor vehicles, nine field artillery guns, as well as two U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MLRS.

Aviation and air defence facilities have shot down one MiG-29 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, five UK-manufactured Storm Shadow cruise missiles, one U.S.-manufactured Patriot anti-aircraft guided missile, seven French-manufactured Hammer guided aerial bombs, 33 U.S.-manufactured HIMARS multiple-launch rocket system projectiles, as well as 796 unmanned aerial vehicles.

During the week, 24 Ukrainian servicemen have surrendered.

In total, 576 airplanes, 267 helicopters, 14,658 unmanned aerial vehicles, 482 air defence missile systems, 15,400 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,234 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,322 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,498 special military motor vehicles have been destroyed during the special military operation.