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Russo-Ukraine War - 20 March 2024 - Day 756

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 Russian military doctrine places high emphasis on the use of camouflage and deception techniques (often known as maskirovka) to enhance the survivability of Russian forces, as well as conceal their operational intent. The lack of effective employment of maskirovka was one of Russia's key operational failures in the early phases of the invasion of Ukraine.

Russian forces have highly likely been making efforts to increase and improve their employment of maskirovka techniques to mitigate the heavy losses sustained over the past two years in both the Black Sea Fleet and Aerospace Forces.

At Russian air bases, maskirovka applications include decoy dummy models of aircraft and tyres on wings of planes. According to reports there are also painted silhouettes of airframes at nine Russian air bases. In the maritime domain, vessels of the Black Sea Fleet have black paint on the bow and stern, likely to make their warships appear smaller and a less appealing target. Silhouettes of vessels have also been painted on the side of quays, probably to confuse Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicle operators.

Despite these attempts at concealment, Russian aircraft are still vulnerable to conventional shootdowns while in the air and Russian vessels are still vulnerable whilst on operations in the Black Sea. It is unlikely that the use of maskirovka techniques will lead to any significant reduction in losses.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that on March 20, there were 67x tactical engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 2x missile and 54x air strikes, 41x 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. Russian forces 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 Hrytsenkove, Popivka, Velyka Pysarivka (Sumy oblast), Oleksandrivka, Kozacha Lopan', Veterynarne (Kharkiv oblast). More than 20x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Sen'kivka, Klyusy, Prohres, Hrem'yach (Chernihiv oblast), Volfyne, Myropillya, Ponomarenky (Sumy oblast), Hatyshche, Vovchans'k, Budarky, Ambarne (Kharkiv oblast).
Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces did not conduct any offensive operations. The adversary launched air strikes in the vicinity of Ivanivka (Donetsk oblast). The Russian invaders fired artillery and mortars at more than 10x settlements, including Dvorichna, Syn'kivka, Petropavlivka, Berestove (Kharkiv oblast).
Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 10x assaults in the vicinities of Bilohorivka, Zolotarivka (Luhansk oblast), Yampolivka, Terny, Rozdolivka, Vesele (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian enemy, using air attacks, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Sviato-Pokrovs'ke, Sivers'k, Kolodyazi, Vesele, Lyman (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Serebryans'ke forestry, Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Tors'ke, Verkhn'okam'yans'ke, Spirne (Donetsk oblast).
Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 5x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka (Donetsk oblast). Around 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Mykolaivka, Vasyukivka, New York (Donetsk oblast).
Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Semenivka, Tonen'ke, Pervomais'ke, Netailove, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). The Russian occupiers launched air strikes in the vicinity of Ocheretyne (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Prohres, Zhelanne, 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, Russian forces, using air attacks, made 18x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The Russian adversary launched air strikes in the vicinities of Urozhaine, Maksymivka, Dokuchajevs'k, Novomykhailivka, Vodyane (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Berestky, Katerynivka, Blahodatne (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) and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Novodarivka (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 15x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Mala Tokmachka, Robotyne, Huliaipilske (Zaporizhzhia oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.
Kherson axis: Russian forces executed 3x assaults on positions of Ukrainian defenders on the left bank of the Dnipro. More than 10x settlements, including L'vove, Tyahynka, Ivanivka, Novotyahynka, Tokarivka (Kherson oblast), were under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

On March 20, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 10x concentrations of Russian troops, weapons and military equipment.

The Ukrainian Missile Forces hit 1x ammunition depot of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, units of the Zapad Group of Forces improved the situation along the front line and defeated the enemy near Sinkovka, Kislovka, Yagodnoye, and Timkovka (Kharkov region).

Two counter-attacks launched by assault groups of the 18th Ukrainian National Guard Brigade were repelled near Terny (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 85 Ukrainian servicemen, three motor vehicles, and one U.S.-made M777 artillery system.

In Belgorod direction, Russian units fully mopped up Kozinka of the rest of Ukrainian militants and continued to carry out activities 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, the enemy lost up to 650 militants, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two Czech-made Vampire MLRS combat vehicles.

In Donetsk direction, units of the Yug Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions as well as defeated units of the 79th Air Assault and 46th Airmobile Brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Krasnoye, Andreyevka, Kleshcheyevka, Novomikhailovka, and Georgiyevka (Donetsk People's Republic).

One counter-attack launched by units of the AFU 81st Airmobile Brigade was repelled near Belogorovka (Lugansk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 420 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and eight motor vehicles.

In course of counter-battery warfare, one D-20 howitzer, one U.S.-made M119 and one UK-made L119 howitzers, one Grad MLRS, one S-300 air defence system, one U.S.-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar station, two Anklav-N electronic warfare stations, one Strela-10 anti-aircraft missile system, as well as four field ammunition depots.

In Avdeyevka direction, the Tsentr Group of Forces' units inflicted fire damage on the enemy and improved the situation along the front line.

Seven counter-attacks of the AFU 47th, 53rd mechanised, 59th motorised rifle, and 3rd assault brigades were repelled close to Novogorodskoye, Pervomayskoye, Tonenkoye, Vodyanoye, and Berdychi (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 395 Ukrainian servicemen, four armoured fighting vehicles, 16 motor vehicles, one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system, and one MT-12 Rapira anti-tank gun.

In South Donetsk direction, the Vostok Group of Forces' units improved their tactical position and inflicted fire damage on the AFU units near Vodyanoye, Pavlovka, Urozhaynoye, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 110 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three pickup trucks, two Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery systems, as well as one Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system.

?? In Kherson direction, the units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted fire damage on manpower and hardware of the AFU 28th Mechanised, 128th Mountain Assault brigades, and 126th Territorial Defence Brigade near Kopani, Mirnoye (Zaporozhye region) and Ivanovka (Kherson region).

The AFU losses amounted to up to 65 Ukrainian servicemen, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one D-20 howitzer.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have been eliminated: a fuel depot for military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Grad MLRS combat and transport-loading vehicles, as well as AFU manpower and military hardware in 121 areas have been eliminated.

Air defence systems have shot down 145 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, 22 projectiles the U.S.-manufactured HIMARS and Czech-made Vampire MLRS systems, the Tochka-U tactical missile, one missile of the S-200 converted to surface-to-ground system, as well as one U.S.-made Patriot anti-aircraft missile.

?? In total, 577 airplanes and 270 helicopters, 16,280 unmanned aerial vehicles, 487 air defence missile systems, 15,545 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,248 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,467 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 19,998 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.