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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 March 2024 - Day 754

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 General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on March 18, there were 56x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 5x missile and 55x air strikes, 60x MLRS attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, the Russian attacks have killed and wounded civilians. Residential apartment blocks and private houses got 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 russian areas bordering Ukraine. Russian troops conduct subversion in order to prevent the deployment of Ukrainian troops to threatened axes. Russia continues shelling of Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the concentration of mining operations along the state border of Ukraine. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Velyka Pysarivka, Lukashivka, Ponomarenky, (Sumy oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Prohres (Chernihiv oblast), Kruzhok, Atyns'ke, Katerynivka, Vodolahy, Myropillya, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Hur'iv Kozachok, Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: the Russian adversary conducted 3x unsuccessful assaults on positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the vicinity of Syn'kivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Ivanivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 4x assaults in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Ivanivske, Klishchiivka, Andriivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Mykolaivka, Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Tonen'ke, Orlivka, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ocheretyne and Novobakhmutivka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Prohres, Vovche, Zhelanne, Myrnohrad, Novohrodivka, Umans'ke (Donetsk oblast).
Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to block Russian forces near Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane, Urozhaine (Donetsk oblast). In that area, the Russian invaders, using air attacks, made 21x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Velyka Novosilka. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Berestky, Kostyantynivka, Antonivka, Katerynivka, Zolota Nyva, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, using air attacks, conducted 7x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Mali Shcherbaky, Prymors'ke (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces conducted 3x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders on the left bank of the Dnipro. More than 10x settlements, including Burhunka, L'vove, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

On March 18, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 6x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x air defense system of the Russian invaders.

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 enemy units near Sinkovka (Kharkov region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 60 Ukrainian troops, four motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, one D-30 howitzer, and one Grad MLRS combat vehicle.

In Belgorod direction, Russian units inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 105th, 120th territorial defence brigades, and struck militants of the Ukrainian Russian Volunteer Corps (RVS) terrorist formations near Popovka, Lukashovka, Velikaya Pisaryovka (Sumy region) and Staritsa (Kharkov region).

Moreover, Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance units attempts to infiltrate the State border of the Russian federation from the side of Ukraine were foiled near Kozinka (Belgorod region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 150 Ukrainian troops and militants killed and wounded, two tanks, three motor vehicles, and one Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicle.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on units of the AFU 80th, 93rd mechanised brigades, 81st Airmobile Brigade, 79th Air Assault Brigade, and 241st Territorial Defence Brigade near Maksimilyanovka, Kleshcheyevka, and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

One attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 46th Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Krasnogorovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 380 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carrier, and four motor vehicles.

In Avdeyevka direction, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware clusters of the AFU 59th Motorised Rifle Brigade, 31st, 47th, and 53rd mechanised brigades near Netaylovo, Umanskoye, Ocheretino, and Novobakhmutovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Seven attacks and counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 24th, 47th mechanised brigades, and 78th Air Assault Brigade were repelled near Kirovo, Orlovka, Berdichi, Semenovka, and Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 295 Ukrainian troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, nine motor vehicles, and one UK-made FH-70 howitzer.

In South Donetsk direction, units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines, inflicted losses on units of the AFU 128th Territorial Defence Brigade near Shakhterskoye, and repelled one attack launched by an assault detachment of the AFU 58th Motorised Rifle Brigade near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 130 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured personnel carriers, and four motor vehicles.

In Kherson direction, as a result of actions of the Dnepr Group of Forces' units, losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 128th Mountain Assault Brigade and 28th Mechanised Brigade near Stepnogorsk and Sherbaki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to more than 55 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one D-20 howitzer, and two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems.

Operational-Tactical and Army Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Group of Forces delivered strikes at the location of a meeting of the commanders of the Ukrainian Security Service and Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 137 areas during the day.

Air defence units shot down one Ukrainian Air Force Mi-8 helicopter, 143 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 22 Grad and Vampire MLRS projectiles, three Uragan MLRS projectiles, and one HIMARS MLRS projectile.

In total, 577 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 15,992 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,521 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,243 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,440 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,910 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.