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Russo-Ukraine War - 16 March 2024 - Day 752

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 analysis by Vorstka of Russian Pension and Social Insurance Fund data, there has been a record growth between 2022 and 2023 in the amount of Russian men aged 31-59 years with disabilities, over the eight years of available data. In 2022, there were officially 1.67 million men with disabilities in Russia aged 31-59 years. This figure increased by 507,000 or 30% in 2023.

Russian demographers have told Vosrtka that the increase in the number of men with disabilities was most likely due to the growth in military invalids. This is almost certainly the case. A significant majority of the over 355,000 casualties that the Russian Armed Forces have suffered as a result of the conflict in Ukraine have been wounded personnel. The average daily number of Russian casualties grew from the start of the Russian offensive campaign in autumn 2023, reaching a peak of 983 per day in February 2024, the highest rate since the start of the war.

The record rise in men with disabilities aged 31-59 and wounded personnel will have a significant impact on the Russian medical and social services.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 16, there were 50x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 43x air strikes, carried out 58x 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.
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. Ukrainian units prevented 2x attempts of infiltration by the Russian forces's sabotage and reconnaissance groups near Stara Huta and Brusky (Sumy oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Velyka Pysarivka, Stara Huta, Ryzhivka, Popivka, Yamne, Oleksandrivka, Luhivka (Sumy oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Yeline, Leonivka, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Ryzhivka, Rozhkovychi, Stepanivka, Sosnivka, Popivka (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Luk'yantsi, Zelene, Starytsya, Hatyshche (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted no offensives. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Syn'kivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 1x assault in the vicinity of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast). The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Novojehorivka (Luhansk oblast), Spirne, Vesele, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Serebryanka, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and east of Chasiv Yar (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Chasiv Yar and Druzhba (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled more than 10x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke and Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Novobakhmutivka, Umans'ke, Netailove, Pervomais'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, the Russian invaders, with air support, made 19x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka and Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar, Prechystivka (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted 4x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Robotyne and northwest of Verbove (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Poltavka, Charivne, Robotyne, Mala Tokmachka (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Odesa operational-strategic group, Kherson axis: Russian forces conducted 2x unsuccessful assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders on the left bank of the Dnipro. More than 10x settlements, including Ochakiv (Mykolaiv oblast), Krynky, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Berehove and the city of Kherson (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 16, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 4x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x command post, 2x concentrations of troops and 1x air defense system of Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 68th mechanised brigades, and 25th Airborne Brigade near Kotlyarovka, Berestovoye (Kharkov region), and Nadiya (Lugansk People's Republic).

Two attacks launched by enemy assault detachments were repelled near Sinkova (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 50 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one Msta-B howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system, and five D-30 howitzers.

Russian units inflicted losses on enemy manpower and hardware clusters in the border areas of Ukraine and Belgorod and Kursk region.

Attacks were repelled and attempts by sabotage and reconnaissance groups of Ukrainian militants to infiltrate the territory of the Russian Federation were foiled on the side of Popovka (Sumy region) and in the direction of Spodoryushino and Kozinka (Belgorod region).

As a result of aviation and artillery strikes, the AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, one Czech-made Vampire MLRS, and one Grad MLRS.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 93rd Mechanised Brigade, 46th, 81st airmobile brigades, 79th Air Assault Brigade near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic), Novomikhailovka, Georgiyevka, and Konstantinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 260 Ukrainian troops, 11 motor vehicles, one UK-made FH-70 howitzer, one D-20 howitzer, and one U.S.-made M119 howitzer. Four AFU ammunition depots were destroyed.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation in the areas of responsibility and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 47th, 110th mechanised brigades, and 71st Jaeger Brigade near Semenovka, Berdichi, and Novokalinovo (Donetsk People's Republic).

Three attacks launched by units of the AFU 47th Mechanised Brigade, 3rd Assault Brigade, and 78th Separate Air Assault Regiment were repelled near Novokalinovo, Tonenkoye, and Semenovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 400 Ukrainian troops, two armoured personnel carriers, 15 motor vehicles, one UK-made AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, and two D-30 howitzers.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 1st Ukrainian National Guard Brigade and 127th Territorial Defence Brigade near Urozhaynoye and Ravnopol (Donetsk People's Republic).

One attack launched by units of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade was repelled near Vladimirovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and one Bukovel-AD electronic warfare station.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on units of the AFU 121st Territorial Defence Brigade, 2nd, 15th, and 23rd Ukrainian national guard brigades near Novopokrovka (Zaporozhye region), Nikopol (Dnepropetrovsk region), and Zolotaya Balka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 40 Ukrainian troops and two motor vehicles.

Operational-Tactical and Army aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces destroyed one unmanned aerial vehicle assembly workshop near Konotop (Sumy region), temporary deployment areas of Luth and Tsunami nationalist formations near Odessa, four AFU unmanned aerial vehicles command posts, as well as engaged AFU manpower and military hardware in 149 areas.

Air defence units shot down 108 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 17 MLRS projectiles, including 15 Czech-made Vampire MLRS projectiles, one U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS projectile, and one Grad MLRS projectile.

In total, 577 airplanes and 269 helicopters, 15,681 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,505 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,240 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,425 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,829 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.