• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Russo-Ukraine War - 19 March 2024 - Day 755

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 Ukraine's continued success in conducting its asymmetric maritime strike campaign has resulted in a visit by Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu to the Black Sea Fleet (BSF) command post in Crimea on 17 March 2024. Shoigu received updates on Ukrainian operations and discussed the performance of Russian naval assets in the region. According to the Russian Ministry of Defence he announced new measures for BSF units to mitigate the threat of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) and uncrewed surface vehicles (USV).

Emphasis was given to the conducting of daily anti-UAV/USV preparedness exercises to enable ships' crews to quickly repel attacks during the day and at night. Shoigu also ordered additional large-calibre weapons be fitted to unspecified assets to augment their defences.

The Russian Navy has highly likely resorted to limiting its operations to the eastern Black Sea as its losses mount, and its threat perceptions increase. With Ukraine continuing to seek out opportunities to strike at distance, the Russian Ministry of Defence has been prompted to increase its efforts to preserve its fleet in the Black Sea.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on March 19, there were 67x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 3x missile and 62x air strikes, 64x 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: the Russian adversary 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. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Lukashivka, Bilopillya (Sumy oblast), Kozacha Lopan', Izbyts'ke (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy, Prohres, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Manukhivka, Myropillya, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Bochkove, Budarky, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces 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 8x assaults in the vicinity of Terny (Donetsk oblast) and Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), where Russian forces made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Rozdolivka, Vesele (Donetsk oblast) and Serebryans'ke forestry. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 6x attacks in the vicinities of Predtechyne, Klishchiivka, Bila Hora (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Kostyantynivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Mykolaivka, Vasyukivka, Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinities of Ocheretyne and Tonen'ke (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 18x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Kostyantynivka, Pobjeda and Novomykhailivka. The enemy fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Berestky, Antonivka, Katerynivka, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).
Orikhiv axis: Russian forces, with air support, conducted 4x attacks on positions of Ukrainian defenders in the vicinity of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Malynivka, Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Novoandriivka, Huliaipilske (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces conducted 1x assault on positions of Ukrainian defenders on the left bank of the Dnipro. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinity of Antonivka (Kherson oblast). More than 10x settlements, including L'vove, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

On March 19, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 6x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 2x ammunition depots, 1x electronic warfare system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, the Zapad Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on the AFU units and improved the situation along the front line.

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, two U.S.-made M777 artillery systems, and one Czech-made RM-70 Vampire multiple rocket launcher.

In Belgorod direction, Russian units continue to carry out measures to prevent sabotage and reconnaissance groups of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from entering the border area.

As a result of air strikes and artillery fire against clusters of AFU manpower and hardware in border areas of Ukraine near Kozinka (Belgorod region), the enemy has lost up to 40 troops, two infantry fighting vehicles, and three motor vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions, and defeated formations of the 79th Air Assault Brigade, 46th Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the 118th Territorial Defence Brigade near Novomikhailovka, Razdolovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Over 215 Ukrainian troops, three tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, and four motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery system, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, one D-30 howitzer, and one S-60 anti-aircraft artillery system were eliminated.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic) and improved the situation along the front line.

Six counter-attacks of AFU 47th, 53rd, 59th mechanised brigades were repelled near Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 125 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, and five motor vehicles.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, the Russian troops hit one U.S.-made M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two D-20 howitzers, one D-30 howitzer, and one MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units inflicted fire damage and repelled two counter-attacks of the AFU 72nd Mechanised Brigade's assault groups close to Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 130 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two infantry fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

In Kherson direction, units of the Dnepr Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and hit manpower and hardware clusters of the 65th Mechanised Brigade of the AFU and 121st Territorial Defence Brigade close to Rabotino and Pyatikhatki (Zaporozhye region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 30 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one U.S.-made M777 artillery system, and one D-30 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 114 areas during the day.

Air defence systems shot down 143 AFU unmanned aerial vehicles and shot down 38 HIMARS, Olkha, Grad, and Vampire MLRS projectiles.

In total, 577 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 16,135 unmanned aerial vehicles, 486 air defence missile systems, 15,534 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,244 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,456 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,933 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.