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Russo-Ukraine War - 13 March 2024 - Day 749

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 according to local officials, voting in the 15-17 March 2024 Russian presidential elections has started early across the temporarily Russian controlled territories of Ukraine.

Efforts by Russian officials to get the population to vote are intensifying. In Luhansk, 2,600 officials have been drafted in to visit homes and persuade residents to vote. Heads of educational and other government establishments have been told to ensure their subordinates turn out to vote. With no independent election observers, and voter lists in at least one town absent, the potential for falsification of results is increased.

With significant population displacement and migration from these areas due to the on-going conflict, it is likely that only approximately a third of the pre-war population remains.

Whilst Russia has no legitimate basis to hold elections on the territory of Ukraine, the credibility of the elections is undermined further by a lack of proper representation, poor security, and coercive measures to pressure the population to vote. It is highly likely the occupation authorities in these territories will claim a high turnout with overwhelming support for Putin irrespective of what actually happens, to give the impression that a democratic choice has been made.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 13, there were 70x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 68x air strikes, carried out 37x 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.
Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna 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 Vil'ne, Velyka Pysarivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Vovchans'k (Kharkiv oblast). Around 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Rozhkovychi, Holubivka, Seredyna-Buda, Krasnopillya, Zapsillya, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Hraniv, Strilecha, Borysivka (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast) and Stel'makhivka (Luhansk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to dislodge Ukrainian units from their positions. The occupiers launched an air strike in the vicinity of Nadiya (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x assaults in the vicinities of Terny and Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), where the Russian adversary made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 3x attacks in the vicinities east of Chasiv Yar, Bohdanivka and Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces, with air support, made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Predtechyne, New York, Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novobakhmutivka, Oleksandropil', Keramik, Novoselivka Persha, Novooleksandrivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Oleksandropil', Keramik, Novobakhmutivka, Semenivka (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, the Russian invaders, with air support, made 19x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Maksymil'yanivka, Vodyane, Maksymivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Vuhledar (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, conducted 5x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), west of Verbove and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Neskuchne (Donetsk oblast) and Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Poltavka, Chervone, Bilohir'ya, Robotyne (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 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders. Around 30x settlements, including Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Sadove, Mykolaivka (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 13, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 7x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment. Also, Ukrainian air defense forces destroyed 1x Kh-31 missile.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x concentration of Russian troops.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces supported by aviation and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and repelled one enemy counter-attack near Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

One AFU attempt to intrude the border territory of the Russian Federation was thwarted in Belgorod and Kursk regions.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 250 Ukrainian troops, seven tanks, three U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, two armoured personnel carriers, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, one Gvozdika and one Nova self-propelled artillery systems.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions, as well as inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 56th Motorised Rifle Brigade, 28th, 42nd, 93rd mechanised brigades, 5th, 92th assault brigades, 17th Tank Brigade, and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Krasnoye, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 245 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three armoured fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and one Strela-10 anti-air system.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one UK-made AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one D-20 howitzer, three D-30 howitzers, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and one ammunition depot were neutralised.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front lines and repelled 12 counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade, 3rd, and 78th assault brigades near Novobakhmutovka, Kirovo, Berdichi, Orlovka, and Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Strikes were delivered at manpower and hardware of the AFU 23rd, and 24th mechanised brigades near Novgorodskoye, Kirovo, and Leninskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 460 Ukrainian troops, one tank, three command post vehicles, and 17 motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one UK-made AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer were neutralised.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous positions and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 102nd, and 128th territorial defence brigades near Malinovka (Zaporozhye region), Staromayorskoye, and Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by units of the AFU 58th Motorised Rifle Brigade was repelled near Novodonetskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 150 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, and two pickup trucks.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 141st Infantry Brigade, 23rd Ukrainian National Guard Brigade, 35th Marines Brigade near Stepovoye (Zaporozhye region), Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), Berislav, and Tyaginka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Groups of Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation wiped out two Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopters at a landing pad near Novopavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), and one armament and military hardware maintenance workshop near Balakleya (Kharkov region).

In addition, the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system was destroyed at a firing position in Kharkov region, and AFU manpower and hardware was engaged in 129 areas.

Air defence units shot down 136 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, four U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectiles, six Grad MLRS projectiles, and three French-made HAMMER guided aerial bombs during the day.

?? In total, 577 airplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,362 unmanned aerial vehicles, 485 air defence missile systems, 15,464 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,238 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,397 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,709 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.